Amir Khan will face Saygid Arslanaliev at ONE: ‘Enter the Dragon’ on May 17th. The Singaporean replaces Ariel Sexton in the semi finals of the Lightweight Grand Prix.
Khan, who lost to Sexton in the quarter finals, broke the news on Instagram today:
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It is good news for Arslanaliev (7-1) who can proceed with preparations for ONE: ‘Enter the Dragon’. But instead of facing Sexton, he finds himself matched with the man who was submitted by the Costa Rican in the quarter finals.
Khan (11-5) had initially been scheduled to face promotional newcomer Iuri Lapicus in a non tournament fight. But Sexton’s broken arm has opened the door for the Singaporean, who has been handed a spot in the semi finals of the ONE Lightweight Grand Prix.
Arslanaliev is arguably the tournament favourite now that Eddie Alvarez is out. However undefeated Hawaiian Lowen Tynanes is also tipped to do well and he faces Timofey Nastyukhin in the other semi final.
The reshuffle leaves Lapicus without an opponent meaning that the May 17th fight card currently looks like this:
ONE: ‘Enter the Dragon’, Singapore, May 17th
Shinya Aoki (c) vs. Christian Lee (For Lightweight Title)
Nieky Holzken vs. Regian Eersel (For Vacant Lightweight Kickboxing Title)
Sage Northcutt vs. Cosmo Alexandre (Welterweight)
Amir Khan vs. Saygid Arslanaliev (Lightweight Grand Prix Semi Final)
Giorgio Petrosyan vs. Petchmorrakot Petchyindee (Featherweight Kickboxing Grand Prix Quarter Final)
Yodsaenklai Fairtex vs. Samy Sana (Featherweight Kickboxing Grand Prix Quarter Final)
Dzhabar Askerov vs. Enriko Kehl (Featherweight Kickboxing Grand Prix Quarter Final)
Andy Souwer vs. Jo Nattawut (Featherweight Kickboxing Grand Prix Quarter Final)
Sasha Moisa vs. Daniel Dawson (Featherweight Kickboxing Grand Prix Alternate Bout)
Geje Eustaquio vs. Kim Kyu Sung (Flyweight)
Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke vs. Miao Li Tao (Strawweight)
Alex Silva vs. Yoshitaka Naito (Strawweight)
Garry Tonon vs. Yoshiki Nakahara (Featherweight)
Mei Yamaguchi vs. Meng Bo (Atomweight)
Rahul Raju vs. Richard Corminal (Lightweight)
