The newly vacated strawweight kickboxing title will be on the line when Zhang Peimian faces Jonathan Di Bella at ONE 162. Former champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao has vacated the belt and either Zhang Peimian or Jonathan Di Bella will be crowned his successor on October 21st.
The event is set for the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur and will be headlined by this title fight. Chinese teenager Peimian has been rewarded for winning two ONE Championship fights out of two in 2022 with a shot at the belt.
At ONE: ‘Lights Out’ in March he stopped Josh Tonna in the second round with body shots. In July he earned a decision win over Aslanbek Zikreev with both fights taking place in the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
While Peimian has ben busy competing in kickboxing bouts for ONE Championship this year his opponent appears to have been more focused on boxing. Di Bella has fought twice in his home of Montreal this year, winning both bouts.
Di Bella has fought for Glory in the past and won the ISKA featherweight title in 2018. He will be making his ONE Championship debut in Malaysia.
👑🩸#ONE162@ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/o27hHFkKxO
— Jon Di Bella (@jondibella) September 29, 2022
Best of the rest
The c0-main event will also be a kickboxing fight, with just two MMA bouts on the ONE 162 card. Islam Murtazaev takes on Nieky Holzken in a match that had originally been scheduled for March.
In the strawweight division former champion Alex Silva (12-7) takes on Gustavo Balart (10-4). The Cuban is the smallest man on the roster but is coming off to very entertaining decision wins.
Meanwhile the experienced Reece McLaren (15-8) will take on Windson Ramos (5-1) in the flyweight division. Both men are BJJ black belts but the Brazilian is a no gi grappling world champion.
It’s ALL Reece McLaren to end Round 1! ⚡ @ReeceMclaren91 @tntdrama @BleacherReport @BR_MMA @brlive #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT3 pic.twitter.com/0YdE8NwQJ9
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 22, 2021
Prime time
ONE on Prime Video 3 is set for the Axiata Arena the following day. It ill take place on Saturday morning local time and be headlined by an all Brazilian flyweight title fight between John Lineker and Fabricio Andrade.
ONE 162, Singapore, October 21st
Kickboxing: Zhang Peimian vs. Jonathan Di Bella (For vacant strawweight title)
Kickboxing: Islam Murtazaev vs. Nieky Holzken (Lightweight)
Reece McLaren vs. Windson Ramos (Flyweight)
Kickboxing: Sittichai Sitsongpeenong vs. Mohammed Boutasaa (Featherweight)
Alex Silva vs. Gustavo Balart (Strawweight)
Muay Thai: Niclas Larsen vs. Jimmy Vienot (Featherweight)
