ONE Fight Night 12: The 3 Fights To Steal The Show In Bangkok Event

Add as a preferred source on Google

Bangkok, July 14: ONE Fight Night 12: Superlek vs. Khalilov is almost upon us, and the card will once again bring a litany of combat sports action to Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The event takes place on Saturday, 15 July, as ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 returns to the sport of Muay Thai once again to face Tagir Khalilov in the evening's main event.

Outside of the headliner, though, are a multitude of contests that will mold the future of their respective divisions. From contenders to new arrivals looking to build their names in the world's largest martial arts organization, here are three fights that can steal the show this weekend.

1. Amir Aliakbari Vs. Dustin Joynson: In what is certainly the biggest contest of the night, Amir Aliakbari and Dustin Joynson collide in a heavyweight MMA matchup to potentially see who faces divisional king Anatoly Malykhin next.

Aliakbari enters this battle riding a two-fight winning streak, having recently scored his biggest victory after stopping MMA legend and former ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon Vera inside round one, an act the Iranian promised to fulfill when he arrived in ONE two years ago.

Awaiting him in the Lumpinee ring, however, will be Joynson. Much like his hard-hitting foe, this Canadian isn't known for going the distance. Inside seven professional wins, Joynson has notched four stoppages.

Joynson recently returned to the win column against Hugo Cunha at ONE: BAD BLOOD in February 2022, and he could stake his claim for a shot at the heavyweight belt should he overcome the tremendous obstacle that is Aliakbari.

2. Lara Fernandez Vs. Phetjeeja: ONE Fight Night 12's main card will also see a women's atomweight Muay Thai clash between two of the most decorated strikers in the category when Lara Fernandez goes head-to-head with Phetjeeja.

Both athletes hold prestigious accolades. Fernandez enters the contest as a former WBC and two-time ISKA Muay Thai World Champion and had a clinical showing last December at ONE 164, earning her first win in ONE against Dangkongfah Banchamek.

Her adversary this weekend, though, is a highly touted talent in Phetjeeja. "The Queen" also enters the bout as a former WMC Muay Thai World Champion with back-to-back knockouts in the ONE Friday Fights series.

The stunning knockouts in each of her performances earned the 21-year-old a contract for the main roster, so this clash has fans expecting a finish before the final bell rings.

3. Walter Goncalves Vs. Banma Duoji: Two emerging talents in the heavy-handed Brazilian in Walter Goncalves and Chinese rising star Banma Duoji will battle this weekend, and the fiery flyweight MMA clash has guaranteed fireworks written all over it.

The fight marks a new chapter for Goncalves. After an exciting run in ONE's flyweight Muay Thai division, the Brazilian slugger will compete under mixed martial arts rules for the very first time.

"Iron Hands" has fought the likes of Superlek and Rodtang Jitmuangnon during his Muay Thai tenure, and now he will look to put that elite experience to use against the hungry Banma.

Fighting out of China, Banma's story has the potential to be a Hollywood script. But after slipping in his promotional debut, "The Prince" wants to right the wrongs of his inaugural outing, and a victory over Goncalves will see him climb up the flyweight ladder in motion.