“The Champ is ready” - Bantamweight MMA king Fabricio Andrade all geared up for world title defense against Kwon Won Il

Fabricio Andrade is locked and loaded for his first test of 2025.

The current ONE bantamweight MMA world champion has assured fans he’s in peak condition ahead of his title defense against Kwon Won Il this Friday, Jan. 24, at ONE 170. The highly anticipated rematch will unfold before a packed house at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Determined to solidify his reign, ‘Wonder Boy’ took to Instagram to declare his readiness to once again face the heavy-handed South Korean and further cement his status as the division’s top dog.

He originally wrote in Portuguese:

“The Champ is ready and in the best shape of my career. Let's go!”

But beyond his bid to continue sitting at the top of ONE Championship’s 145-pound MMA bracket, Andrade is also chasing redemption.

In November 2023, the Brazilian spitfire ventured into the world of pure striking, locking horns with Jonathan Haggerty for the then-vacant ONE bantamweight kickboxing world championship.

However, his quest for two-sport supremacy ended in heartbreak as he succumbed to a second-round knockout loss to the British hard-hitter.

Now, Andrade returns to his MMA roots, eager to reassert his dominance against a familiar foe.

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Fabricio Andrade squares off with a resurgent Kwon Won Il

However, standing in Fabricio Andrade’s path is a surging Kwon Won Il, a knockout artist in his own right with a flawless 100-percent finishing rate in his nine victories under the ONE banner.

The South Korean contender enters this world title bout riding high on a three-fight winning streak, eager to avenge his previous loss to Andrade in June 2022.

Since that setback, ‘Pretty Boy’ has been relentless in his climb up the rankings, securing the No. 3 spot and earning another shot at gold.

With both men hungry for victory, their showdown at ONE 170 promises to be nothing short of explosive.