ONE Championship: Only the Brave

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Kim vs. Tang
Jae Woong Kim, TKO, R1
IDK who wins but someone is getting finished. Title eliminator.

Minowa vs. Brooks
Jarred Brooks, DEC
Straight Title Eliminator, Minowa at the age of 21 has beaten some good competition although they were close decisions I think Brooks will be too much.

Silva vs. Elliott
Paul Elliott, TKO, R1
LHW Kickboxing, HW kickboxing, HW MMA or LHW MMA Braddock Silva is game and active for ONE. Its a shame he is normally losing.

Bruhhhh why does brooks have to be on at 5 am 

Only the brave. It sounds more like "only the brave, not like chicken Bhullar"

Also the title shot at Pacio should be for the south African whose name I don't remember, but if he can't then yes, this is a title eliminator

I also like they chose Braddock, I have the feeling they are putting alternates for every title fight in their cards (Bo-Teo yesterday, and also Stoforidis-isaev) so that they can do them anyway. And Silva could save the main event, and in this case also the Opacic fight 

* Edited at 01.15.2022, 3:46 AM ET *

ONE has eluded to the South African Bokang Masunyane getting the next shot at Pacio, so Minowa vs Brooks gets the winner. I highly doubt Braddock would get put in that spot. Also, these first 5 fights were added way before ONE even announced the full card, yet it hasn't been updated since.

Thank god they moved brooks to the main card. Also all of these kickboxing fights are going to be insane

Rimkus should’ve lost his last fight so I’m hoping Smokin jo smokes him

I think smoking jo is just better. Dovydas is good but he’s got time to learn 

Man this is a sick card Sittichai vs Kiria and Armenia vs Azerbaijan in the main.... Fireworks for sure

And noway that Lithuanian kid is getting by Smokin' Jo.... Tough fight for him

* Edited at 01.24.2022, 10:46 PM ET *

Smokin jo is replacing grigoian I believe. So dovydas gets a saving grace 

A saving grace in the form of a guy that knocked down Grigorian

Ya that Lithuanian kid is gonna get smoked like a cigarette by Ivan Kondratev 

Silva vs. Elliott
Anderson Silva, TKO, R2
Elliot is way too much a can crusher/ bum fighter this guy fought for gold..before.

the size difference between tetsuka and kadestam is insane, im picking an upset

Kadestam is out and will be replaced by Edson Marques

I didn't even know that Purev vs. De Jesus was added to this card. It should be a cake walk for the mongolian.

Anderson Silva vs Paul Elliott
Elliott, KO/TKO, R1

Paul Elliott is a danger. With this being his ONE debut, I can't see him slacking for this fight. Anderson Silva hasn't produced anywhere near enough for me to be swayed by him either. At the end of the day, this is the fight game so anything can happen... but you do hesitantly feel that this could be routine for Elliott.


Hiroyuki Tetsuka vs Zebastian Kadestam
Tetsuka, Submission, R2

You can't help but laugh at the size differential in this one... with that said, Kadestam could have his hands full with Tetsuka. He's an experienced wrestler and should get the better of the Swede if he isn't kept at arms length - granted those arms are massive...


Tatsumitsu Wada vs Shuo Wang
Wang, Decision

I have very little to say on this other than the cliché of it could go either way. I've picked Wang purely based on his momentum coming into the fight.


Hiroba Minowa vs Jarred Brooks
Brooks, Decision

The first MMA bout of the main card, this one is tough. Mainly because it's tough to not appreciate Minowa as the top class 22 year old he is and if he maintains his trajectory he could be an absolute killer. But, he is up against Brooks and he is an exciting figure himself. At 24 he took it all the way with the current UFC flyweight champion Figueiredo. The American has something about him, and that something might just be too much for Minowa.


Lipeng Zhang vs Ruslan Emilbek
Zhang, Decision

While it was unanimous back in November, Uulu definitely knew he was in a scrap just two months ago. Questions could be asked whether the turn around is a little too soon for him - especially with an opponent of Zhang's quality. Lipeng Zhang does have a remarkable ability to submit anyone who isn't up to scratch. I don't think it will go that way but I do fancy Zhang to do just enough to earn the win.


Jae Woong Kim vs Kai Tang
Kim, Submission, R2

Finally, the main event. This will be a proper rumble. Tang has some superb finishes, hailing from his stunning striking prowess - dropping Chang Min Yoon with a jab last time out earned him an easy win. With Kim, I don't think it will be quite as straight forward. Kai will have to use utilise his takedown defences in order to escape this one I reckon. Kim will be all over him in that sense, so I'm sticking my neck out for a South Korean submission.

Live! 

I was looking forward to Paul Elliott's debut, but even this bout has been scratched last minute

Beautiful KO by Kondratev put that bowl cut out. Lithuanian kid is terrible should have lost his last fight as well

* Edited at 01.28.2022, 7:32 AM ET *