By:  | June 30, 2023 9:57 am

A former champion will have the opportunity to relaunch his career at ONE Fight Night 13. John Lineker will be competing for the first time since losing his title to Fabricio Andrade.

Lineker (35-10-0-1) is coming off back to back fights with Andrade and took a serious beating in both of them. The first one ended in a no contest when the challenger landed a low blow just as he was on the verge of finishing the champion.

The rematch took place at ONE Fight Night 7. Andrade did so much damage that Lineker’s corner decided not to send him out for the fifth and final round.

Former champions

Woong (13-7) is best known for knocking out Martin Nguyen at ONE: ‘Revolution’ in 2021. He has knocked out two former champions in the first round.

At ONE Fight Night 4 last year Woong finished former bantamweight king Kevin Belingon in the opening round. But the Korean has dropped out of the top five after losing three of his last four fights.

He began his ONE Championship career in the featherweight division and was one win away from a title shot, losing to Tang Kai in a title eliminator. He beat Belingon in his bantamweight debut but moved up a few pounds to face Shoko Sato in a catchweight contest last time out.

Featherweight title

As previously announced Chingiz Allazov and Marat Grigorian will meet for the third time at ONE Fight Night 13. The latter will be making the first defence of the featherweight kickboxing belt he snatched from Superbon Banchamek on August 4th.

Allazov is riding a four fight winning streak that saw him earn a title shot by winning the featherweight Grand Prix. At ONE Fight Night 6 in January he knocked out Superbon in the second round to silence the fans in Bangkok and win a second belt.

Grigorian has won seven out of his last eight. The only defeat during this period came at the hands of Superbon who was on one of the most impressive winning streaks in kickboxing history at the time.

Previous meetings

Grigorian was scheduled to face Allazov in the semi final of the kickboxing Grand Prix but was forced to withdraw from that fight after contracting Covid-19. The men met twice during their time fighting for Glory.

The first fight ended in a no contest after Grigorian inadvertently cut Allazov with his elbow. An immediate rematch was ordered and this time the Armenian took the decision win but these fights took place a decade ago.

ONE Championship has attracted the best kickboxers in the world to compete in its stacked featherweight division. Superbon knocked out Giorgio Petrosyan to win the title and was seen as unstoppable but saw his momentum  abruptly halted by Allazov.

Switching codes

Meanwhile another  fight has been added to the ONE Fight Night 13 card. Tawanchai PKSaenchaigym will be competing in kickboxing for the first time when he faces Davit Kiria at Lumpinee Stadium on August 4th.

Tawanchai has won five out of six for ONE Championship. The only blemish on his recent record was a split decision loss to Sittichai Sitsongpeenong back in 2021.

He defeated Petchmorakot Petchyindee to win the featherweight Muay Thai title. Tawanchai followed that up with a KO win over Jamal Jusopov at ONE Fight Night 7.

Kiria only has one win from his four ONE Championship fights. But the Georgian returned to the regional scene in Europe and scored back to back victories.

Prodigal son

Jhanlo Sangiao will be returning to the ring at ONE Fight Night 13. The 20 year old has been matched with Eknh Orgil Baatarkhuu at Lumpinee Stadium on August 4th.

Sangiao has won all three ONE Championship fights by first round submission. His father, Mark Sangiao, was the founder of Team Lakay and enjoyed success as a mixed martial artist in the Philippines before retiring to become a full time coach.

Baatarkhuu won the Road to ONE Mongolia tournament. The 34 year old is coming off back to back wins against Filipinos and will be looking to continue that streak.

At ONE Friday Fights 13 he beat Team Lakay’s Adonis Sevilleno by decision. He had earned a spot on the team by winning the ONE Warrior Series Philippines reality show.

At ONE Friday Fights 17 the Mongolian stopped Rockie Bactol in the final second of the first round. But he faces a much tougher test against the up and coming Sangiao.


Long awaited

The long awaited fight between Marcus Almeida and Oumar Kane will also take place on August 4th. The two heavyweights have been booked to face off for the third time at ONE Fight Night 13 with the previous two bouts falling through.

The fight could well turn out to be a title eliminator. Interim champion Anatoly Malykhin and regular champion Arjan Bhullar are set to face off in a unification bout at ONE Friday Fights 22 next month.

The winner of the fight between Almeida and Kane will be in pole position for a shot at the winner. Both are on winning streaks but it is the Brazilian who has really taken the heavyweight division by storm.

Almeida has finished every single opponent he has ever faced, either by ground or pound or submission. The Brazilian only made his debut in 2021 but has seen five different matches fall through, including two with Kane.

Kane is coming off back to back wins over opponents who were previously undefeated. He has won four out of his five ONE Championship fights.

ONE Fight Night 13, Bangkok, August 4th
Kickboxing: Chingiz Allazov (c) vs. Marat Grigorian (For featherweight title)
Kickboxing: Tawanchai PKSaenchaigym vs. Davit Kiria (Featherweight)
Oumar Kane vs. Marcus Almeida (Heavyweight)
John Lineker vs. Kim Jae Woong (Bantamweight)
Kickboxing: Supergirl Jaroonsakgym vs. Cristina Morales (Atomweight)
Jhanlo Sangiao vs. Eknh Orgil Baatarkhuu (Bantamweight)