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Welcome to today's edition of the daily Sportskeeda ONE Championship News Roundup, where we present the promotion's most important stories.
Today, we discuss Saygid Izagakhmaev coming for Christian Lee and the ONE lightweight world title, Reinier de Ridder speaking on a potential mega-fight against Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida, and Roberto Soldic vowing to end Murad Ramazanov early in their fight.
#3. “It will be a very spectacular fight” - Saygid Izagakhmaev ready to challenge Christian Lee
Saygid Izagakhmaev is absolutely rolling in his ONE Championship career and he feels he’s ready to step up to face two-division world champion Christian Lee.
The Dagestani star bumped up to No.3 in the lightweight rankings following his first-round knockout win over Japanese legend Shinya Aoki at ONE 163 earlier this month in Singapore.
Now on a 3-0 run in ONE Championship, Izagakhmaev spoke to the South China Morning Post about a potential showdown against Lee:
“He did a really great job today and I think I did the same. So if we fight, it will be a very spectacular fight and it will collect a lot of people in this arena. I’m sure one day we will face each other, either in the next fight or the fight after that. But I’m ready for this.”
Mere hours before Izagakhmaev obliterated Aoki, Lee headlined ONE on Prime Video 4 against Kiamrian Abbasov.
The Singaporean-American star, who already owned the ONE lightweight world championship, moved up a weight class and captured the ONE welterweight world title after an impressive fourth-round knockout of Abbasov.
Watch the interview below:
#2. “A big honor for me to fight” - Reinier de Ridder envisions massive showdown with 'Buchecha' at heavyweight
Two-division world champion Reinier de Ridder has been clamoring for a shot at heavyweight gold. While he won’t be getting that one just yet, there is one more person he wants to face in ONE Championship's 265-pound division.
De Ridder, who holds the ONE middleweight and light heavyweight world titles, would love to have a match against Brazilian legend Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida.
Before he even dreams of facing ‘Buchecha’ though, De Ridder must first defend his light heavyweight belt against ONE interim heavyweight world champion Anatoly Malykhin at ONE on Prime Video 5 on December 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
De Ridder’s titanic showdown against Malykhin and the rest of the card is available live and for free for existing Prime Video subscribers in North America.
In an interview with Morning Kombat, De Ridder said that it would be a pleasure for him to share the circle with Almeida:
“There’s still a lot of guys out there who will get a shot one day. There are a lot of cool guys at ONE as well. At heavyweight, there are a lot of cool options. I’d fight at heavyweight as well. Like, 'Buchecha' would be a big honor for me to fight.”
Almeida is arguably the greatest submission grappler in history, with the heavyweight fighter collecting 17 Brazilian jiu-jitsu world titles before he transitioned to MMA. ‘Buchecha’ started his MMA career in late 2021 and has since amassed a 4-0 record, all in ONE Championship.
Catch the entire interview below:
#1. Roberto Soldic vows to put the pressure on Murad Ramazanov, looking for early finish
Roberto Soldic knows that he has to put on a near-flawless showing in his first fight in ONE Championship at ONE on Prime Video 5. If what he plans to do against Murad Ramazanov does happen, then he could just land himself on that coveted superstar pedestal.
The Croatian sensation plans to go out and put on an explosive performance in Manila, and part of that is finishing off Ramazanov as early as possible.
In an interview with The MMA Superfan, Soldic stated that he doesn’t know what Ramazanov would do, but promised that their match would be a good one:
“It's going to be a good fight. I don't know if he wants to fight with me. I'll put pressure but I'll try to finish him in the second round.”
Soldic is a former two-division KSW champion and his ONE Championship debut this December marks his arrival in the big leagues. Considered the heir apparent to the legendary Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic, ‘Robocop’ is a devastating striker with 17 of his 20 career wins coming via knockout.
Ramazanov, however, is as dangerous as any top welterweight in the world. The Russian brawler owns a perfect 11-0 record and is 3-0 in his ONE Championship career.
Catch Soldic's interview below:
