One of the biggest stars on the ONE Championship roster will look to set himself on a path back to world title glory when the promotion kicks off its 2023 calendar in Bangkok, Thailand on January 13.
Former two-division champion Aung La N Sang returns in a 215-pound catchweight bout against Brazil’s Gilberto Galvao, while former featherweight title challenger and grappling ace Garry Tonon faces off against fellow American contender Johnny Nunez.
N Sang is looking to right the ship after losing his middleweight and light heavyweight titles to Dutchman Reinier de Ridder in successive bouts in 2020 and 2021. Since then, he has gone 2-1, with first-round knockouts of Leandro Ataides and Yushin Okami sandwiching a decision loss in a trilogy bout with former middleweight champion Vitaly Bigdash.
Now “The Burmese Python” is looking to register back-to-back victories for the first time since 2019 as he looks to mount another charge towards ONE Championship gold in 2023.
It’s a similar story for Tonon, who is also keen to return to winning ways inside the ONE Circle after an unsuccessful tilt at the featherweight title.
Tonon was finished via first-round TKO by Thanh Le back in March 2022, then lost a submission to Tye Ruotolo in a submission grappling matchup two months later.
“The Lion Killer” returns to MMA competition on January 13 when he takes on Nunez, a veteran of two seasons of The Ultimate Fighter whose ONE Championship debut in 2019 ended in a unanimous decision defeat to Kazuki Tokudome.
Nunez has been away from the cage since then, but is ready to return as he looks to kickstart a new chapter in his career with victory over established contender Tonon.
In addition to the two featured MMA matchups, ONE Fight Night 6 will also bring three title fights to the Impact Arena, with two kickboxing championship bouts, plus a submission grappling title fight.
Thailand’s own featherweight kickboxing champion Superbon Singha Mawynn puts his title on the line against Chingiz Allazov in the main event, while another Thai star, Superlek Kiatmoo9, will challenge for the vacant flyweight kickboxing title when he takes on Daniel Puertas.
The third title fight of the night sees flyweight submission grappling champion Mikey Musumeci put his title on the line against Mongolia’s Gantumur Bayanduuren.
Also set for action is Thai starlet and former two-sport champion Stamp Fairtex, who takes on multi-organization kickboxing world champion Anissa Meksen in a mixed-rules super fight that will alternate between Muay Thai and MMA rules as the rounds progress.
The fight card in Bangkok will also feature arguably the biggest Thai star on the ONE Championship roster – Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
The flyweight Muay Thai champion returns to action in a kickboxing contest against Chinese striker Jiduo Yibo.
ONE Fight Night 6: Fight Card
MAIN CARD
- Superbon Singha Mawynn (c) vs. Chingiz Allazov – for featherweight kickboxing title
- Superlek Kiatmoo9 vs. Daniel Puertas – for vacant flyweight kickboxing title
- Mikey Musumeci (c) vs. Gantumur Bayanduuren – for flyweight submission grappling title
- Stamp Fairtex vs Anissa Meksen – mixed rules bout
- Aung La N Sang vs. Gilberto Galvao
- Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs. Jidupo Yibu – kickboxing bout
- Garry Tonon vs. Johnny Nunez
LEAD CARD
- Anna Jaroonsak vs. Ekaterina Vandaryeva – Muay Thai bout
- Kim Jae Woong vs. Shoko Sato
