The ONE Championship returned earlier today for the latest installment in the Friday Fights series, one for the top juniors in the United States.
The event, ONE Friday Fights 22, was held at the famous Lumpinee Boxing Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The Mecca of Muay Thai has once again hosted some notable names and up-and-coming rookies in the sport that is only eye-catching, but this time, much of the attention has been on the all-important mixed martial arts shows.
The main attraction for MMA fans was the biggest heavyweight fight in ONE Championship history, as champion Arjan Bhullar returned for the first time since 2021 to unify the title against light heavyweight kingpin and interim heavyweight champion Anatoly Malykhin.
Given the anticipation surrounding Bhullar’s return and the devastating course taken by his undefeated Russian opponent, the match seemed poised to deliver work worth getting up for.
In the end, it turned out to be a one-sided contest, as Malykhin dominated his Indian-Canadian opponent en route to a TKO victory in the third round.
But the heavyweight MMA gold wasn’t the only title on the line. In the absence of champion Joseph Laceri, former divisional title holders Praganchai BKS Saenchai and veteran Sam A Gayangjadaw made it back to the interim strawweight Muay Thai belt, with the former winning in the end.
Elsewhere, kickboxing champion ONE Flyweight Kiatmoo9 pulled off a successful project for “The Art of the Eight Limbs” by defeating 19-year-old Nabil Annan, former Glory champion and current Muay Thai featherweight contender Sichai Sitsongbinong who defended his ranking against American Eddie Abasolo.
One friday fights 22 results
Muay Thai fly: Superlek Kiatmoo9 def. Nabil Anan via KO (body punch): R1, 2:03
Interim Muay Thai Strawweight Championship: BKS Saenchai won by Prajanchai. Sam-A Gaiyanghadao via KO (attached): R2, 2:10
Catch Weight (142 lbs.) Muay Thai: Saeksan Or. kwanmuang def. Nathan Bendon by unanimous decision
Bantamweight Muay Thai: Nico Carrillo defeated. Muangthai PKSaenchai via TKO: R2, 1:23
MMA Heavyweight Championship: defeated Anatoly Malykhin (IC). Arjan Bhullar (C) via TKO: R3, 2:42
Muay Thai Featherweight: Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong def. Eddie Abasolo by unanimous decision
Muay Thai bantamweight title: Faria Aminipur def. Rambolic Cor Ajlbon via split decision
Hunting weight (132 lbs.) Muay Thai: Kongthoranee Sor.Sommai def. Gingsanglek Tor.Laksong via KO (left hook): R2, 0:28
Catch Weight (119 lbs.) Muay Thai: Akram Hamidi defeated. Jomhod AutoMuayThai via TKO: R2, 0:36
Catch Weight (119 lbs) Muay Thai: Thongpoon PKSaenchai def. Yangdam via split decision
Middleweight MMA: Shamil Erdogan defeated. Fan Rong via KO (body kick): R2, 0:37