Year Ender 2024: Johan Estupinan’s Meteoric Rise In ONE Championship

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Nearly every week, fighters from around the globe compete across multiple disciplines in ONE Championship. Each athlete aims to win, entertain fans, and showcase their ever-evolving skills. Among them, Johan Estupinan stood out not just for his skills but also for his charisma, marking the rise of a potential superstar.

"Panda Kick" became the first fighter from Colombian to compete in ONE Championship, instantly making an impact by winning his first Muay Thai bout in just 27 seconds. This happened in May 2024 at ONE Friday Fights 64 against Japan's Kouta Omori.

Riding the momentum from his remarkable first outing, he appeared in his first U.S. primetime event just a month after his debut, where he faced Zafer Sayik and secured a unanimous decision victory.

His toughest challenge, however, came against Sean Climaco at ONE 168: Denver.
Both strikers came out with all guns blazing in the first round. "Panda Kick" scored an early knockdown, but Climaco responded by dropping him twice to take a lead in the fight.

The Colombian came-from-behind in the second round to drop him three times to secure a TKO victory. Nearly a month later in October, Estupinan returned to action and finished his opponent in style.

He faced Moroccan opponent Zakaria El Jamari at ONE Fight Night 25, delivering a knock out in the second round. With his fourth straight victory in ONE, he extended his flawless record to 26-0.

The South American star also won back-to-back US$50,000 performance bonuses for his last two bouts. Estupinan has made new fans on the global stage with his show-stopping power and charisma. In fact, he has all the tools to become the first Colombian World Champion in ONE history.

He will aim to maintain his undefeated record and become a ranked contender in the star-studded flyweight Muay Thai division. His first assignment of 2025 is already set, as he will face another young phenom in Johan Ghazali on 24 January at ONE 170.