By:  | November 30, 2023 12:38 pm

Another bout has been added to ONE Fight Night 18. The first Prime Video card of the year will feature a bantamweight matchup between Artem Belakh and Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu.

Belakh (10-3) was stopped by Kwon Won Il last time out. The Russian has a win and a draw from his previous two ONE Championship fights, he beat UFC veteran Leandro Issa by decision on his debut.

By contrast Baatarkhuu (10-2) is on a nine fight winning streak and coming off a big win. He submitted Jhanlo Sangiao in the second round at ONE Fight Night 13 handing the Filipino the first win of his entire career.

UFC veteran

As previously announced John Lineker will be making his Muay Thai debut at ONE Fight Night 18. The UFC veteran takes on Liam Harrison at Lumpinee Stadium on January 18th.

Lineker is a former ONE Championship bantamweight champion who developed a reputation as one of the hardest hitting fighters in the sport of MMA. The 33 year old faces a totally different type of challenge when he takes on the experienced Englishman.

Harrison has had over 11 Muay Thai fights and been in with some of the best fighters at his weight. The Englishman has been in with Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, Muangthai P.K.Saenchai, Phetmorakot Wor Sangprapai and Saenchai PKSaenchaigym.

Legendary power

Lineker is coming off back to back wins in 2023. He beat Jae Woong Kim and Stephen Loman but, having already faced bantamweight champion Fabricio Andrade twice, he is unlikely to be awarded a third title shot.

Under normal circumstances Harrisonโ€™s superior experience would make him a strong favourite. But he suffered a serious knee injury in the loss to Nong-O and has been sidelined for over a year.

Harrison is known for his low kicks although the Englishman is so confident in his boxing that he wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather. Linekerโ€™s punching power is legendary and this fight is already being promoted as โ€˜guaranteed fireworksโ€™.

Flyweight title

Superlek Kiatmoo9 and Elias Mahmoudi will headline the event which is set for Lumpinee Stadium. The Thai will be putting his flyweight kickboxing title on the line.

It will be Superlekโ€™s first fight since his win over Rodtang Jitmuangnon. That victory was soured by the 28 year oldโ€™s failure to make weight, it cost him the flyweight Muay Thai title and at least $50,000 USD in bonuses.

While Rodtang remains the Muay Thai champion despite that defeat Superlek holds the kickboxing title. This will be Mahmoudiโ€™s second time challenging for the belt, he lost to Petchdam Petchyindee in 2019.

Hard hitting

Baatarkhuu will not be the only Mongolian on the card. Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg and Kwon Won Il will face off at Lumpinee Stadium on January 13th. The Korean saw his title prospects damaged by a stoppage loss at the hands of current champion Fabricio Andrade.

Kwon rebounded with two straight second round stoppage wins including the one over Belakh. The #4 ranked Korean has now won five out of his last six with every single victory coming courtesy of a stoppage due to strikes.

Zoltsetseg has been in some wild brawls but has yet to crack the top five at bantamweight. The Mongolian is coming off a split decision win over Rui Chen at ONE Friday Fights 22.

New year

Next up is ONE Fight Night 17 which is set for December 9th. There are currently seven Muay Thai fights confirmed for that card.

In 2024 the promotion is set for a big overseas expansion. Earlier today ONE 165 was confirmed for Tokyo on January 26th with Rodtang facing Takeru in the main event.

A few weeks later Chatri Sityodtongโ€™s promotion will be heading to Qatar for the first time. ONE 166 is set for March 1st and there arenโ€™t currently any matchups confirmed for that card.

ONE Fight Night 18, Bangkok, January 12th
Kickboxing: Superlek Kiatmoo9 vs. Elias Mahmoudi (For flyweight title)
Muay Thai: Liam Harrison vs. John Lineker (Bantamweight)
Kwon Won Il vs. Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg (Bantamweight)
Artem Belakh vs. Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu (Bantamweight)