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2022 was an already incredible year for these five athletes in ONE Championship, but the new year might just be even better.
The past year saw the reputations of these five fighters soar to greater heights and it can be expected that their stardom would reach supernova levels this 2023.
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That said, here are five ONE Championship stars poised for a monster 2023.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
#5. Fabricio Andrade
He called himself the uncrowned king in 2022, and Fabricio Andrade might just sit on the ONE Championship's bantamweight throne this year.
The hard-hitting Brazilian is the no.1-ranked contender in the 145-pound division and he’ll once again take on John Lineker for the vacant ONE bantamweight world title in the main event of ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video this February.
Andrade had a landmark 2022 campaign in ONE Championship, going 2-0 with both of his wins coming via first-round knockout. Those couple of victories pushed ‘Wonder Boy’ to a match against Lineker for the ONE bantamweight world title.
‘Wonder Boy’ dominated Lineker during the match, but an accidental low blow in the third resulted in the fight being declared a no-contest.
Still, what Andrade did in that fight was nothing short of spectacular and he could eventually claim the gold on February 11.
#4. Kade Ruotolo
Kade Ruotolo has yet to reach his 20s but his 2022 campaign alone is already better than some fighters’ whole resume.
The 19-year-old is 3-0 in ONE Championship with two of those wins coming off world title matches. Ruotolo became the inaugural ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion when he beat sambo world champion Uali Kurzhev at ONE on Prime Video 3 in October.
Ruotolo has since defended his belt against Matheus Gabriel at ONE on Prime Video 5. With such a dominant streak this past year, it’s no wonder that the young star is looking ahead to a potential MMA debut.
While his striking acumen has yet to be seen, Ruotolo’s submission grappling is already of the highest level. The Atos fighter already owns a menacing reputation and it’s plausible that a transition to MMA would reap even bigger rewards for Ruotolo.
#3. Christian Lee
Christian Lee entered 2022 without a single world title in his possession, and is leaving it with two.
The Singaporean-American star solidified his distinction as the best 170-pounder when he reclaimed the ONE lightweight world title from Ok Rae Yoon at ONE 160 in August. He then added the ONE welterweight world title when he knocked out Kiamrian Abbasov at ONE on Prime Video 4 in November.
It’s no wonder that Lee now has the biggest target on his back and his potential world title challengers are considered the most dangerous fighters on the planet. Well, if Lee pulls it off, then he might just be proclaimed as the no.1 pound-for-pound fighter not just in ONE Championship but the world.
Lee already foresees defending the lightweight belt against the surging Saygid Izagakhmaev while Murad Ramazanov and Roberto Soldic are in the hunt for the welterweight strap.
#2. Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson once ruled the North American scene and he’ll begin his 2023 campaign in the very country where he first built his reputation.
‘Mighty Mouse’ had a historic 2022 when he claimed the ONE flyweight world title via his knockout finish over Adriano Moraes at ONE on Prime Video 1 in August. The win made Johnson the only person to win world titles in both ONE Championship and UFC.
After more than three years of fighting exclusively in Asia, Johnson is back in the United States as he defends his gold against Moraes at ONE Fight Night 10 on Prime Video in Colorado this coming May.
Johnson is already an absolute legend of the sport, but he admitted that his days in the sport are about to end. It can’t be denied that the 36-year-old would want to make his last few fights very memorable.
If Johnson retains flyweight gold in Colorado, then 2023 will surely be another hallmark year for his legendary career.
#1. Anatoly Malykhin
Anatoly Malykhin ruled 2022 with an iron fist, and he’s ready to bring that destructive power into 2023.
Already a double world champion in ONE Championship, Malykhin is on the precipice of claiming his third belt if his unification bout against ONE heavyweight world champion Arjan Bhullar does happen.
Malykhin, the ONE interim heavyweight and light heavyweight world champion, should take on Bhullar to unify the heavyweight belts and determine who would be the undisputed ONE heavyweight world champion.
‘Sladkiy’ was power incarnate in the past year when he knocked out Kirill Grishenko at ONE: Bad Blood in February for the interim heavyweight strap.
He then dropped down a weight class and finished the once-perfect Reinier de Ridder at ONE on Prime Video 5 in December to capture the ONE light heavyweight world title.
