'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABiAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgQAAICAgICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQABREiBhITIVEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEEQEAAQQDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgADITESIiNB/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDMm3u6zRHStUpOsntZrljKWBro5l+P1bkDt2P6Scg1+z4/HetINY6hZ5AFEoIHDH6HXGMqsPC0gRfSWZBJwv1pL2oOukNY3Er/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Welcome to today's edition of the daily Sportskeeda ONE Championship News Roundup, where we present the promotion's most important stories.
Trending
Today, we’ll discuss Jamal Yusupov’s belief that Tawanchai PK.Saenchai will be under pressure in front of the Bangkok crowd, Martin Nguyen shooting down the idea of returning to lightweight, and Demetrious Johnson’s plans heading into his trilogy bout against Adriano Moraes.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
#3. Jamal Yusupov says the pressure is on Tawanchai to perform in front of hometown crowd in Bangkok
Jamal Yusupov may be heading into his opponent’s turf, but ONE Championship’s No.2-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender feels the pressure is on Tawanchai PK.Saenchai’s shoulders.
The Turkish star will challenge Tawanchai for the ONE featherweight Muay Thai world title at ONE Fight night 7 on Prime Video at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
‘Yeniceri’ is aware he’s walking into hostile territory, but believes Tawanchai will be under heavier scrutiny on February 24.
During the pre-event interviews, Yusupov said:
“It doesn't affect me much. I think it should affect him more because he's kind of fighting in his hometown. He's defending his belt. So I believe it must be more pressure on him.”
Yusupov is 3-0 in ONE Championship and his fight against Tawanchai might just be the biggest of his career.
ONE Fight Night 7, just like any of ONE Championship's Amazon cards, is available live and for free to all Prime Video subscribers in North America.
#2. “I'm too short” - Martin Nguyen shuts down idea of competing at lightweight again
Martin Nguyen had already reached the pinnacle of mixed martial arts when he became ONE Championship’s first-ever double-world champion back in 2017.
Already in possession of the ONE featherweight world championship, Nguyen challenged Filipino legend Eduard Folayang for lightweight gold in Manila, no less, at ONE: Legends of the World in 2017.
Nguyen more than delivered on his challenge when he knocked Folayang out in the second round, which left the Manila crowd stunned.
While Nguyen didn’t have a lengthy reign with the ONE lightweight world title, deciding to instead vacate it due to injury, many still wondered what could happen if he decides to get back to 170 pounds.
During ONE Championship's pre-fight interviews for ONE Fight Night 7, Nguyen simply said that he’s too small for the lightweight division.
“Right now, I'm walking around like a lightweight, so I'm going to be heavy at the moment. But look, in terms of that division, that's not my division. I'm too short for that division.”
Nguyen, who stands at 5-foot-8, has since stayed at featherweight and is now scheduled to take on Leonardo Casotti on February 24 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
#1. Demetrious Johnson looking to scrap against Adriano Moraes in trilogy
Demetrious Johnson is considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Part of that legacy is his fighting style inside the cage.
The reigning ONE flyweight world champion is arguably the smartest fighter in MMA history and is fully capable of trapping his opponents in whatever way he wants.
Heading into his trilogy bout against rival Adriano Moraes, Johnson revealed that he’s more than willing to get into a full-blown scrap against the Brazilian star.
In his conversation with Fight Tips, Johnson said:
“Just gonna go out there and fight, you know just like what I did in the first one. I think the biggest thing when it comes to where I’m at in my stage of my career, just go out there and fight. I mean I’ve been fighting for so long that everyone kind of knows my style and I just go out there and let my opponent pick their poison.”
Johnson and Moraes are set to end their 1-1 stalemate in the main event of ONE Fight Night 10 on Prime Video on May 5 at 1stBank Center in Colorado.
ONE Fight Night 10, which is ONE Championship’s first on-site card in the United States, is available live and for free to all Prime Video subscribers.
Watch Johnson's conversation with Fight Tips below:
