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The One Championships promotion is kicking off a huge weekend of MMA action with a loaded card featuring a championship bout in the top slot. The One Championships Welterweight Title will be defended as Ben Askren puts the gold on the line against Nikolay Aleksakhin. Also, Geje Euatquio faces Gianni Subba and plenty of other top international prospects are stepping into the cage.
Main Event
One Championships Welterweight Title Fight
“Funky” Ben Askren (14-0-0-1NC) (Champion) vs. Nikolay Aleksakhin (17-3-0)
Askren will be making the second defense of his championship, as he last defended it against Luis Santos in a bout that ended in a no contest at One Championships 26. Aleksakhin is currently undefeated in One Championships, having defeated Burenzorig Batmunkh at One Championships 33. Askren is also a former Bellator MMA Welterweight Champion, he successfully defended the gold six times before leaving the promotion in 2013. Aleksakhin has fought some top notch competition before this title fight, as he fought UFC veteran Bojan Velickovic at Telsa Fighting Championships IV. Aleksakhin does have some quality ground skills, but Askren is one of the best in the world on the ground and he grinds out a decision to keep the gold.
Co-Main Event
One Championships Flyweight Division Fight
Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio (7-4-0) vs. Gianni Subba (7-1-0)
Eustaquio has won four of seven fights under the One Championships banner, last defeating Saiful Merican at One Championships 37. Subba has spent his entire professional MMA career in One Championships and he enters the fight on a four fight winning streak. Eustaquio will already be fighting for the second time this year, it has been more than two years since he has fought more than one time in a calendar year. Subba has only suffered one defeat as a pro thus far and that loss came to Eugene Toquero at One FC 15 in 2014. These are two fighters who are skilled wherever the fight winds up, but it will be Subba getting a razor close decision in this one.
One Championships Lightweight Division Fight
Koji “The Commander” Ando (12-4-2) vs. Lowen Tynanes (8-0-0)
Ando has won three of four under the One Championships banner, with his last win coming over UFC veteran Roger Huerta. Tynanes is currently undefeated as a professional MMA fighter and that includes four wins in One Championships competition. Ando is one of the best lightweights in One Championships and he outworks Tynanes for three rounds to secure a decision.
One Championships Featherweight Division Fight
Eric “The Natural” Kelly (12-2-0) vs. Timofey Nastyukhin (9-2-0)
Kelly has won three of his last four fights and he has previously challenged for the One Championships Bantamweight Title. Nastyukhin has won two of three fights in One Championships competition and none of his fights as a pro went past the opening round. Kelly is one of the best submission fighters in all of MMA right now and he submits Nastyukhin in the opening round.
One Championships Bantamweight Division Fight
Muin “Tajik” Gafurov (10-0-0) vs. “Lightning” Reece McLaren (8-3-0)
Gafurin has already competed twice in One Championships and none of his fights as a pro have gone to the judge’s scorecards. McLaren is currently undefeated in One Championships, having defeated Mark Striegl at One Championships 35. These are two competitors who are very adept on the ground, but Gafurov will barely outwork McLaren on route to a close decision.
One Championships Featherweight Division Fight
Honorio “The Rock” Banario (8-6-0) vs. Vaughn “The Spawn” Donayre (8-4-0)
Banario will enter the fight riding a five fight winning streak and he has not earned a victory in well over three years. Donayre has only won just one of his last five fights and he is currently winless in One Championships competition. These are two competitors who are in a serious need of a victory and it will be Banario submitting Donayre in the first to get that victory.
One Championships Atomweight Division Fight
Natalie “The Kilapino” Gonzalez Hill (1-3-0) vs. April Osenio (0-1-0)
Hill will enter the fight riding a three fight losing streak and she has not earned a victory in nearly four year’s time. Osenio is currently winless as a professional MMA fighter, losing in her pro debut to Kristie Gannaway at One Championships 25. These are two women who are in need of a victory in the worst way, but Hill will use her wrestling to get a decision win here.
One Championships Featherweight Division Fight
Su “The Terminator” Noto (3-2-0) vs. Bernard “The Hitman” Soriano (2-1-0)
Noto has won just one of three fights in One Championships, with that lone win coming over Mario Satya Wirawan at One Championships 30. Soriano will be making his One Championships debut in this fight and none of his bouts have gone past the opening round. Soriano has a still developing striking game, but it is enough for him to catch Noto and finish him with strikes in the second.
One Championships Flyweight Division Fight
Muhamad Haidar (0-0-0) vs. Danny Kingad (2-0-0)
Haidar will be making his professional MMA debut in this fight, but he did earn a total of three wins as an amateur. Kingad will be making his One Championships debut in this fight and both of his previous wins came by decision. Haidar did have a fairly decent run as an amateur, but Kingad has a quality wrestling game and he grinds out a decision here.
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