Pacio survives an onslaught to unify the strawweight MMA class
The endearing picture the final time Joshua Pacio fought in Qatar was him being helped from the cage after being spiked by Jarred Brooks within the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title conflict. He could have been the brand new champ, however regarded removed from a winner.
As the 2 ran it again final evening of their trilogy combat, it regarded like the same destiny awaited the person from the Philippines. Interim champ Brooks went off like a rocket within the first spherical scoring a takedown and searching submissions. However in not discovering a end, it appeared Brooks’ fuel tank rapidly began to empty – permitting Pacio to indicate unbelievable coronary heart to select himself again up and rating a come-from-behind win with some spectacular floor and pound.
He now reigns, undisputed, and may sit up for presiding over a division he was absent from for nearly a 12 months.
Haggerty is the king, plain and easy
Going into this one, some could have been forgiven for considering Wei Rui was the person with gold on his shoulder. The hype across the Chinese language star was justified given his 21-fight win streak, however on this evening Jonathan Haggerty confirmed his really elite standing.
ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion took a bit time to settle as Wei Rui began rapidly trying to assert dominance. However because the combat went on there was solely ever going to be one winner. Haggerty discovered his rhythm, and extra importantly his vary – discovering the goal at will, and making his opponent miss greater than he hit.
In the long run it was a decisive victory for Haggerty who moved to a 23-5 total hanging document. What comes subsequent is up for debate following the late cancellation of Ilias Ennahachi versus Petchtanong – which might have probably served as a primary contender match.
Whoever is subsequent in line definitely has a problem of a lifetime towards the Brit, however will Haggerty additionally hinting at eager to discover MMA, who is aware of?
Heroes exit in a blaze of glory
Two legends of the sport bowed out in Qatar after struggling robust losses.
Martin Nguyen was the primary fighter in ONE Championship historical past to carry titles throughout two divisions, however his outing in Qatar could be his final. A unanimous choice loss to the spectacular Russian Shamil Gasanov was sufficient to name time on what has been a spectacular profession.
In the meantime when Bibiano Fernandes and Kevin Belingon took to the cage there was at all times a touch this might be a swansong. The pair had been going through off for the fifth time, neither had fought since 2022, and between them had been 0-7 of their final outings.
None of that ought to take away from the careers of both man nonetheless, each had been ONE bantamweight MMA World Champions – with Bibiano defending for a document eight instances.
On this evening in Qatar, it was the Brazilian who would as soon as once more take the spoils after a forwards and backwards contest that each may have claims on successful. It ended with Bibiano getting his hand raised by break up choice – earlier than laying his gloves down within the centre of the cage.
Roberto Soldic arrives in ONE Championship
This will have been his third combat, however now Roberto Soldic can lastly say he has arrived in ONE Championship – and in spectacular trend too.
Not too many tipped the Croatian heading into his bout with the harmful Dagi Arslanaliev. Certainly, if the Turk had come out of this one with a win there was a strong argument for him concentrating on ONE welterweight MMA world title.
We had all seen the explosiveness Soldic possessed all through his profession – that had simply not materialised in ONE as but.
Nonetheless, one earth-shattering left hook was all it took to wipe Arslanliev out and rating what is going to already be one of the crucial beautiful KOs of 2025. Soldic had even dropped down a weight class to welterweight for this one – however whichever division he finally ends up settling in, they’re now on discover.
Some large regional wins
Shamil Erdogan was out to ensure individuals didn’t suppose his win over two-weight world champion Aung La N Sang was a fluke – and a primary spherical KO of the Myanmar hero definitely did that. Anticipate large issues sooner or later for the Turkish fighter.
On the lead card, two regional fighters had been additionally in a position to make quick work of their opposition. UAE BJJ hero Zayed Alkatheeri picked up a first-round submission win over Jordan’s Mohammad Aburumuh, whereas Iraq’s Hussein Salem kicked the evening off in model with a primary spherical KO of Italian Walter Cogliandro.