Photo credit to @yodchatri on Twitter
ONE Atomweight Grand Prix quarter final bouts announced
The ONE Atomweight Grand Prix matchup dynamic has seen the light of day.
Marc Raimondi reported news that on an all-women’s card slated for May 28th, ONE would be kicking off their long-awaited Atomweight tournament. Officials told ESPN of these details for the Springtime Singapore event.
Alyona Rassohyna vs Stamp Fairtex is an immediate rematch with a redemptive component for the latter.
Stamp Fairtex suffered the first loss of her MMA career to Alyona Rassohyna via third-round submission in early February. A defeat that was deemed controversial by Fairtex who is eager to even up the series here with Rassohyna.
Denice Zamboanga vs Seo Hee Ham is an intriguing bout involving an undefeated prospect in Zamboanga. She takes on an individual in Ham who many argue is the current best Atomweight in the world.
This is a great crossroads fight because this is by far the biggest test of Zamboanga’s career. Also, this is Hamderlei Silva‘s return after over a year out of competition.
Meng Bo vs Ritu Phogat showcases an individual in Bo who has a multitude of finishes across a seven-fight winning streak.
She stands opposite Phogat who has a spotless professional record and a seventy five percent finishing rate (all via strikes) through her efforts.
Itsuki Hirata vs Alyse Anderson highlights someone who’s largely a homegrown ONE talent in Hirata. She has a one hundred percent finishing rate and an unbeaten record to her credit.
Hirata takes on a debutant in ONE Championship here. Alyse Anderson enters the ONE circle on the heels of back-to-back wins on the Invicta FC circuit.
ONE Atomweight Grand Prix
The winner of the ONE Atomweight Grand Prix will take on reigning divisional titlist Angela Lee in November.
Our quarterfinal matchups for the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix! 🔥🔥🔥 Who makes it to the next round? 🤔 @_itsuki_h_ @PhogatRitu #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/rW44NBsoRf
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) March 12, 2021
The top of the marquee attraction for this all women’s May event will see ONE Championship gold on the line. ONE strawweight titlist Xiong Jing Nan defends her hardware against title contender Michelle Nicolini.
Jing Nan’s last outing saw her defend her strawweight throne successfully in October against Tiffany Teo via unanimous decision.
By the time she steps into the ONE Circle here, it will have been almost two years since Nicolini last competed.
Her last outing was a huge statement victory though. Michelle Nicolini bested Angela Lee via unanimous decision in a July 2019 strawweight bout.
Who do you think advances to the ONE Atomweight Grand Prix semi-finals?
Do we hear “And New” or “And Still” in the ONE strawweight championship main event?
