ONE Fight Night 3 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting cards of the year after ONE Championship announced that two of its most exciting titleholders are taking center stage.
Two-division ONE World Champion Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder and ONE Bantamweight World Champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker will banner ONE’s third event on the morning of Saturday, 23 October.
De Ridder defends his ONE Middleweight World Title against Shamil Abdulaev in the main event of the evening.
“The Dutch Knight” is fresh off an impressive first-round submission win of Vitaly Bigdash last July, and he’ll be looking to take out yet another tough Russian for his next assignment.
De Ridder is currently 16-0, with 12 wins coming via submission, making him one of the most dangerous—if not the most dangerous—grapplers in mixed martial arts today.
While this will be Abdulaev’s debut in The Home of Martial Arts, he’s set to give De Ridder a tough challenge. He comes in with a 13-1 record and holds seven knockouts.
His lone loss was a split decision, but he came roaring back by winning his next three bouts in dominant fashion, marking his arrival in ONE.
The co-main event will be equally as interesting as Lineker finally takes on his brash, confident, and equally dangerous compatriot in Fabricio Andrade.
Lineker took ONE by storm, beating the likes of Muin Gafurov, former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon, and Troy Worthen before finally being given a shot at longtime divisional king Bibiano Fernandes.
“Hands of Stone” truly lived up to his moniker, knocking out the erstwhile World Champion in a thriller to usher in a new era in the ONE bantamweight division.
Waiting for him is another tough Brazilian who has been nothing short of splendid in the promotion.
Andrade is currently 5-0 in ONE, finishing four of his wins – one with a well-placed liver kick to Kwon Won Il in their meeting this past June.
“Wonder Boy” called out Lineker after that, setting up what could very well be the fight of the year.
