
Returning to the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, One Championship delivered another series of electrifying performances with One Fight Night 26.
In addition to witnessing the return of lightweight and welterweight MMA champion Christian Lee, fans were treated to elite martial arts talents spanning multiple disciplines, including submission grappling and Muay Thai.
From lightning-fast submissions to devastating knockouts, this event delivered non-stop excitement. So without further ado, let’s break down the top three finishes from the night!
3. Cole Abate vs. Shinya Aoki
To kick off the list, we have the 31-3 Cole Abate against legend Shinya Aoki.
As the former One Lightweight MMA champion, Aoki was more than twice Abate’s age and boasted a record of 48-11 in MMA and 12-8-1 in submission grappling.
With a single 10-minute round to decide the outcome, the two men went straight to work.
Abate wasted no time going into guard. In 1 minute, Abate went for a triangle choke attempt, only to quickly transition into a heel hook 30 seconds later.
At the 2:25 mark, Abate applied immense torque forcing Aoki to tap. This victory was a career-defining moment for Abate, as he toppled one of submission grappling’s most iconic names whilst earning a Performance of the Night bonus!
2. Dante Leon vs. Bruno Pucci
Next up, we have 3-time IBJJF champion against Brazil’s Bruno Pucci.
Hailing from Canada, Leon boasted an exceptional BJJ record of 143-48, whereas Pucci was 24-4 in BJJ and 7-6 in MMA.
The bout began with Pucci immediately shooting for a takedown and Leon successfully defending and taking the back.
Although Pucci managed to turn to Leon at 1:58, Leon transitioned into a triangle armbar that forced Pucci to tap at 2:01.
Such flawless performance earned Leon a Performance of the Night bonus.
1. Thongpoon PK Saenchai vs. Danial Williams
At the number 1 spot, we have Thongpoon PK Saenchai against former WBC champion Danial Williams!
Training out of the renowned PK Saenchai gym, Thongpoon boasted a record of 79-25, in comparison to Williams’ 24-10 record.
Round 1 started with the two exchanging leg kicks. The pace was relaxed, but quickly intensified such that both fighters were exchanging heavy blows by the end of the round.
Round 2 saw the fighters continuing to brawl it out. However, Thongpoon scored a knockdown at only 20 seconds into the round.
Williams nonetheless recovered well and continued the high-octane action, only to get knocked down again at the 52-second mark.
Smelling blood, Thongpoon rushed to score a third and final knockdown at 1:10 to end the fight and earn a fantastic Performance of the Night Bonus!