ONE Championship: 2021 is currently underway and ONE Championship has already staged some incredible martial arts spectacles early on in the year. Fans of the world’s largest martial arts organization certainly have a lot to look forward to in the coming months.
You can count on one thing — ONE Championship puts on the fights fans want to see, and aren’t afraid to put their top talent against the best possible opposition. Sooner or later, everyone has to prove themselves in the Circle.
This year, we anticipate some massive blockbusters. There are a handful of possible matchups on offer that have all but been confirmed. Here are the biggest potential ONE Championship fights to watch out for in 2021.
1) Brandon “The Truth” Vera vs. Arjan “Singh” Bhullar
It seems like it certainly has been a long time coming, but Commonwealth Games Wrestling Gold Medalist and former UFC star Arjan “Singh” Bhullar will soon meet ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera in the Circle.
Although a date has not been set in stone, Vera is expected to meet Bhullar early this year. The 43-year-old Filipino-American teased his return to action in a recent interview in the Philippines.
Bhullar earned a shot at Vera following a one-sided beatdown of former ONE World Title challenger Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli in Punjabi native’s October 2019 ONE debut. If Bhullar can defeat Vera, he will become the first ever Indian mixed martial arts world champion in a major organization.
2) “Unstoppable” Angela Lee vs. Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga
The rivalry caught fire last year when reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee announced that she was pregnant with her first child, prompting #1-ranked atomweight contender Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga to goad Lee into relinquishing her world title.
Lee, of course, refused to do so. A back-and-forth war of words through the media ensued, in turn, drumming up major hype in this women’s mixed martial arts showdown.
Zamboanga fully expects to get a crack at Lee as soon as she gives birth and is ready to compete again, despite the impending ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix that is supposed to determine the true #1 contender to the atomweight throne.
3) Christian Lee vs. Eddie Alvarez
There is no doubt that 22-year-old ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee is a talented fighter. Victories over Shinya Aoki, Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev, and Iuri Lapicus have legitimized his latest run through the ranks.
Somewhere down the line, he’s going to have to face former UFC and Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez. It’s one of the biggest fights to make in any promotion.
Alvarez is set to face Lapicus on April 7, and if he can get past the former ONE World Title challenger, the American is expected to earn a crack at the lightweight strap. Lee will make his next defense against Timofey Nastyukhin on April 14. If he successfully defends the title, then that sets the stage for a Lee vs. Alvarez showdown later this year.
4) Thanh Le vs. Garry Tonon
There are a lot of names after newly-crowned ONE Featherweight World Champion Thanh Le. But that’s to be expected when you have a shiny gold belt draped over your shoulders. The Vietnamese-American lifted the featherweight strap following a tremendous performance against former titleholder Martin Nguyen late last year. The third round TKO victory was ONE Championship’s best of 2020.
Gnawing at his heels is submission grappling icon Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon. The undefeated American just recently bested his toughest opponent yet — a three round unanimous decision over former ONE World Title challenger Koyomi Matsushima. Tonon currently has six wins, with five of those victories coming by finish.
While Tonon could certainly face Nguyen first for the right to challenge for the title, “The Lion Killer” firmly believes he’s next in line for a shot at ONE Championship gold.
5) Vitor Belfort’s ONE Debut
UFC legend Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort joined ONE Championship in 2019 to much fanfare. However, he has yet to step foot inside the Circle since the headline-stealing announcement nearly two years ago.
Hong Kong’s Alain “The Panther” Ngalani has been pegged to welcome Belfort into the ONE Championship fold. Ngalani said that bout was all but confirmed in 2020, but got pushed back further and further due to various factors.
Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic and its wide-ranging ramifications have a lot to do with delaying his promotional debut. That’s understandable. Still, fans can’t wait to see “The Phenom” in action at the soonest possible time.
ONE Championship has teased at Belfort’s impending Circle debut this year, so fans may not have to wait any longer. At 43 years of age, Belfort shouldn’t wait any longer either.
6) Ritu Phogat in the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix
Last but certainly not least is Commonwealth Wrestling Gold Medalist Ritu Phogat’s entry into the much-talked-about ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix.
When reigning atomweight queen Angela Lee announced her pregnancy last year, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong not long after announced plans to host an eight-woman tournament to determine the rightful next challenger to Lee’s atomweight throne.
Those ranked officially in the Top Five — Denice Zamboanga, Meng Bo, Lin Heqin, Mei Yamaguchi, and Stamp Fairtex — are all but confirmed to join the fray. But there are a handful of fringe contenders and new signings who are waiting in the wings for a spot in the ladder. The undefeated Phogat is one of them.
Phogat is undefeated at 4-0, with three knockouts to her name. And she’s only getting better with each fight. Will we see her in the Grand Prix? Only time will tell.