Americans Will Take Center Stage at ONE Fight Night 24 in Mecca of Muay Thai

July 31, 2024

4 months

Jarred Brooks learned his lesson during his last fight. Brooks was in the middle of attempting to defend his strawweight championship when he picked up Josh Pacio and slammed him to the mat. However, Brooks’ slam wasn’t up to snuff.

It was ruled that Brooks slammed Pacio illegally after he landed head-first on the canvas. Brooks, who was making his first title defense, would lose his championship via disqualification. This weekend, during ONE Fight Night 24 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Brooks will have the opportunity to fight for the interim championship when he battles Cuban powerhouse Gustavo Balart.

Balart seems to have figured things out after a slow start to his career. He lost his first three fights in the promotion. However, Balart was able to adjust to the competition and has won four consecutive fights by decision.

This fight is vital for Brooks. He feels like he was cheated out of a result during his last fight. However, MMAfighting latest news shows that he has to earn another opportunity to battle for the belt if he wants it back.

Brooks hasn’t lost fights back-to-back since his time in the UFC. During a fight in June 2018, Brooks memorably knocked himself out when he was attempting to slam Jose Torres. During that stay in the UFC, Brooks also lost a split decision to future UFC champion Deiveson Figueiredo.

Expect Brooks’ main event fight at this card to highlight what should be an exciting night of fights.

Kelly Has Belt, Would Like to Build Legacy

American Danielle Kelly has taken on a few tough challenges on her way to becoming the first-ever ONE atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion. But Kelly’s first title defense may be against her most dangerous opponent yet.

The best MMA news sites show Kelly will have her hands full against Brazilian Mayssa Bastos. Bastos is a nine-time IBJJF World Champion. While Bastos is highly decorated, she looked a little reserved during her ONE debut and beat Kanae Yamada by decision.

Kelly is 3-0-1 during her time in ONE. Picking up another win would start to build her status as one of the organization’s greatest grapplers.

Anane Plans to Flash Tremendous Power

It’s difficult to measure the success that Nabil Anane has accomplished so far. While Anane lost his ONE Championship debut by KO, there was little doubt that this was only a minor bump in the road for the 20-year-old. Anane had been a star on the Bangkok Stadium Circuit.

Anane scored enough victories to become the youngest-ever WBC Muay Thai Champion when he was 17. But Anane has continued to seek out tougher competition. Anane will have his chance to take on tougher competition this weekend when he faces off against former ONE title challenger Felipe Lobo.

Lobo, a 31-year-old Brazilian, is 3-2 in ONE and is coming off a TKO loss to Jonathan Haggerty. Anane has been settling into life in ONE after an initial disappointment. Anane lost his debut in ONE, but has rallied to win three straight.

Two of those victories have come via knockout, according to online boxing news. Expect Anane to search for another spectacular victory for his record.

Cobra Ready to Strike

Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov is sitting in fifth place in the ONE MMA featherweight rankings. The best MMA news sites show that Gasanov is primed for more success. Aaron Canarte is hoping to get in his way.

Canarte saw his undefeated record sullied during his last fight when he lost to Akbar Abdullaev via first-round KO. Gasanov knows what it is like to have to rally back from a disappointing performance.

Gasanov lost his first MMA fight in July 2023 when he was submitted in the second round by Garry Tonon via kneebar. In Gasanov’s fight, he looked much more controlled and was able to pick up an important decision win over Ho Taek Oh.

Gasanov has a lot to prove in this fight and should put the pressure on Canarte.

Ranked Flyweight Kickboxers Seeks Strong Performance

Taiki Naito has fought his way to No. 3 in the flyweight kickboxing record by relying on his excellent speed. Naito is also a master at timing the right strikes at the correct time to stun opponents. Maintaining that level of excellence will be important against fifth-ranked Elias Mahmoudi.

Naito has found his fair share of struggles recently. Despite having a 7-5 record in the organization, Naito has lost three of his past four fights. Mahmoudi has also struggled to maintain consistency in ONE.

Mahmoudi enters this fight off a first-round knockout of Edgar Tabares and has a 3-2 record overall.

Atomweights Will Have Exciting Battle

Yu Yau Pui has been a destroyer of worlds since she made her way to ONE Championship. It is only fitting that Yu would be asked to take on one of the most exciting Muay Thai prospects coming out of Europe. Amy Pirnie is the three-time UK Fighter of the Year and will be truly stepping into the fire when she debuts in ONE.

Pirnie has yet to see a fighter like Yu. Yu is a fighter who has no issues brawling. Yu is 6-0 with three knockouts during her time in ONE.

Yu’s last victory was a beatdown of former title challenger Lara Fernandez. Yu is angling for the belt, and Pirnie would be wise to be careful during her first fight in the organization.

Here are some other fights on the card that aren’t mentioned above: