ONE Championship is ready to get the ball off and running in 2023, starting with ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov on Prime Video this Friday, January 13. The nine-fight card will play host to two kickboxing World Title fights, a submission grappling championship matchup, MMA battles, Muay Thai fights, and, of course, a mixed-rules clash between two exciting atomweight superstars.

Ahead of the promotion’s first show of the year – and its first live event at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, since the pandemic – we look at three must-watch battles that will certainly impress this weekend.

#1 Mikey Musumeci vs Gantumur Bayanduuren

ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey “Darth Rigatoni” Musumeci will make his first World Title defense against Gantumur Bayanduuren at ONE Fight Night 6 on Prime Video. And this battle has every element to be another submission grappling classic inside the Circle. 

For one, this match will be another chapter in the budding rivalry between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Sambo – a head-to-head battle that sides 3-0 to BJJ. And the divisional king, Musumeci, is fired up to maintain that hot streak.

READ MORE – “The Fight Every Kickboxing Fan Must Watch” – Superbon Thrilled To Defend Kickboxing Crown Against Chingiz Allazov

However, Bayanduuren brings just as much technicality, pace, and wizardry on the canvas, three tools that could undeniably push him to earn a victory for Sambo on the global stage. After all, the contender recently won gold at the 2022 Sambo World Championships and would love to add another shiny belt to his trophy cabinet.

#2 Stamp Fairtex vs Anissa Meksen 

Top-ranked atomweight MMA athlete and former two-sport World Champion Stamp Fairtex returns to the Circle for a must-watch meeting against French kickboxing queen Anissa “C18” Meksen in Bangkok. The match will alternate between Muay Thai and MMA, with the odd rounds contested under a striking ruleset.

Stamp’s rise in ONE Championship has been impressive, and this fight will allow her to test her complete arsenal in two familiar disciplines. For Meksen, though, this will be her first time competing under an MMA ruleset in her professional career. As scary as it sounds, “C18” believes her years of experience in Judo and striking will come in handy during the MMA frames.

Regardless of which athlete walks out of the Circle from this bout with their hand raised, this mixed-rules battle is sure to be an intense clash from bell to bell.

#3 Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs Jiduo Yibu

Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon guarantees firefights every time he steps inside the Circle. As a result, his battle with “The Eagle of Yi” Jiduo Yibu wraps up this list.

Since joining the organization in September 2018, the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion has been unstoppable, picking up a spotless 11-0 run in the striking art. But Yibu could make life difficult for Rodtang if the latter is careless in attack.

READ MORE – “I Will Be Ready” – Anissa Meksen Confident She Can Adjust To MMA Against Stamp Fairtex

The Chinese star has outclassed various strikers like his Thai counterpart and packs plenty of aggression and tricks whenever he steps into the pocket. A back-and-forth battle seems to be the likeliest of scenarios, but the athlete with a sharper and more efficient game plan should take home the victory to get their 2023 campaign off to a flying start.