Demetrious Johnson Captures ONE Flyweight World Title with Stunning Flying Knee Knockout of Adriano Moraes
ONE Championship (ONE) made history with ONE on Prime Video 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II, the first of many live broadcasts to be aired on Prime Video. The electrifying evening of world-class martial arts action featured a fiery ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title showdown between two legends and a highly anticipated rematch for the ONE Flyweight World Title.
ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to our World Champions.
Demetrious Johnson is the new ONE Flyweight World Champion. The American closed out ONE’s inaugural event on Prime Video with a flying knee that left Adriano Moraes unconscious on the canvas.
“Mighty Mouse” took the action to the Brazilian kingpin, unleashing punches in bunches from close quarters, which rattled the defending World Champion. Moraes had early success in the first two rounds, peppering the top-ranked contender with jabs and connecting with thunderous combinations. On the mat, “Mikinho” was dominant, as his size proved to be a major factor in the grappling exchanges.
Johnson rallied in the third and fourth stanzas with a more technical approach. He found plenty of success with his boxing, as he stepped in and out of the pocket while utilizing his quick head movement to avoid Moraes’ lead hook. With just a little over a minute left in the fourth frame, “Mighty Mouse” found a hole in the titleholder’s defense. He clipped his opponent with a sharp right and a spectacular flying knee to end Moraes’ night for good.
AND NEW! 👑 @MightyMouse 🇺🇸 wins the ONE Flyweight World Title with a walk-off KO of Adriano Moraes!@PrimeVideo #ONEonPrimeVideo1 #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/A3G9dlesyw
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) August 27, 2022
The victory earned Johnson ONE gold and a US$50,000 bonus.
In the co-main event, ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao relied on his surgical precision and technical finesse to defend his gold against Liam Harrison. The Thai hammered the Brit’s lead leg with snappy low kicks and soon went head-hunting with chopping left roundhouse kicks. He prevented “Hitman” from deploying his usual style of aggression, and a final kick to Harrison’s lead leg left the latter down and out on the canvas. Nong-O retained his World Title and also claimed a US$50,000 performance bonus.
Panpayak Jitmuangnon punched his ticket to the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix Championship Final with a stellar display against Savvas Michael. The Thai veteran looked calm and confident, throwing straight lefts and powerful kicks to put his Cypriot opponent on the back foot. Panpayak carried on in the second round, and a quickfire combination sent his rival to the canvas just 10 seconds into the frame. The performance netted “The Angel Warrior” a US$50,000 bonus. He will take on Superlek in the tournament finale.
In a battle of two heavyweight elites, BJJ legend Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida made quick work of former World Title challenger Kirill Grishenko. The undefeated Brazilian star tagged the Belarusian with two early low kicks before shooting in for a blast double. Instinctively, “Buchecha” grabbed his rival’s left leg and rolled it over to force the tap via heel hook just 64 seconds into the contest. The victory earned him a US$50,000 bonus as he maintained his 100 percent finishing rate.
Amir Aliakbari kicked off ONE on Prime Video 1 with a second-round TKO victory over Mauro Cerilli. Aliakbari was in his element, showcasing his world-class wrestling and the punching power that made him famous. Cerilli was game to engage, but he succumbed to the pressure midway through the second round.
Performance bonus winners: Demetrious Johnson (US$50,000), Nong-O Gaiyanghadao (US$50,000), Panpayak Jitmuangnon (US$50,000), Marcus Almeida (US$50,000), Superlek Kiatmoo9 (US$50,000)
MAIN CARD
MMA – Flyweight: Demetrious Johnson def. Adriano Moraes via Knockout at 3:50 of R4
Muay Thai – Bantamweight: Nong-O Gaiyanghadao def. Liam Harrison via TKO at 2:10 of R1
Muay Thai – Flyweight: Panpayak Jitmuangnon def. Savvas Michael via Knockout at 0:10 of R2
MMA – Heavyweight: Marcus Almeida def. Kirill Grishenko via Submission (Heel Hook) at 1:04 of R1
MMA – Heavyweight: Amir Aliakbari def. Mauro Cerilli via TKO at 4:02 of R2
LEAD CARD
Muay Thai – Flyweight: Superlek Kiatmoo9 def. Walter Goncalves via Knockout at 1:35 of R1
Muay Thai – Catchweight (128 LBS): Diandra Martin def. Amber Kitchen via Unanimous Decision
MMA – Catchweight (119 LBS): Itsuki Hirata def. Lin Heqin via Unanimous Decision
MMA – Catchweight (189 LBS) : Zebaztian Kadestam def. Iuri Lapicus via Knockout at 0:57 of R1
