Isi Fitikefu will face undefeated promotional newcomer Chase Mann in a welterweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok after his originally scheduled opponent withdrew due to injury.
The 33-year-old Australian-Tongan fighter was initially set to face Dzhabir Dzhabrailov at ONE Fight Night 38 in December before the Turkish fighter pulled out. Fitikefu now gets an opportunity against Mann, who brings a perfect 6-0 professional record into his ONE Championship debut.
Fitikefu seeks his third consecutive victory after rebounding from a difficult start to his promotional tenure. The Sydney-based fighter arrived at ONE Championship in November 2022 with an unblemished 7-0 record following his transition from rugby to mixed martial arts, but he dropped a narrow split decision to Ruslan Emilbek Uulu in his debut.
The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Smeaton Grange representative responded emphatically by submitting Valmir da Silva via first-round rear-naked choke at ONE Fight Night 9 in April 2023. He continued building momentum at ONE 168: Denver in 2024 by halting Hiroyuki Tetsuka's five-fight winning streak, establishing himself among the welterweight division's emerging contenders.
Another victory would solidify Fitikefu's position within the competitive 185-pound ranks while extending his current winning streak. His well-rounded skill set has proven effective against diverse opposition, though Mann represents a different challenge as an undefeated prospect making his promotional debut.
Mann enters as one of American mixed martial arts' most promising undefeated prospects. The 29-year-old has showcased finishing ability across multiple disciplines throughout his unblemished career, securing victories via both knockout and submission. His arrival at ONE Championship represents a significant step up in competition level.
A successful debut against the experienced Fitikefu would immediately establish Mann as a legitimate welterweight threat while validating his perfect record against proven divisional talent. The matchup presents the classic veteran versus prospect dynamic, with Fitikefu's promotional experience contrasting against Mann's unbeaten momentum.
Fitikefu's two-fight winning streak provides confidence heading into the rescheduled bout, though facing a hungry undefeated fighter in his promotional debut creates unique challenges. Mann will seek to make an immediate impact by defeating a fighter riding momentum within the division.
The welterweight division continues building depth with emerging contenders like Fitikefu establishing themselves alongside undefeated prospects like Mann entering the promotion. Victory for either fighter would represent important progress toward their respective championship aspirations within the competitive weight class.
