ONE Championship Announces May Combat Sports Events in Bangkok

May 10, 2026, 16:47
AsiaSports

Introduction

ONE Championship has shared details about two upcoming events at Lumpinee Stadium, featuring a world title defense and several important fights across different combat sports.

Main Body

The first event, ONE Fight Night 43, takes place on May 15 and focuses on the ONE Featherweight MMA World Championship. The current champion, Tang Kai, will defend his title against Shamil Gasanov. This fight is particularly interesting because it matches Tang's strong striking skills against Gasanov's expertise in grappling. Additionally, the event features a flyweight Muay Thai fight between Aslamjon Ortikov and Jordan Estupinan, which could determine who will fight for the vacant world title. Other notable matches include Ben Woolliss facing Petchtanong Petchfergus in kickboxing, and Diogo Reis attempting to win a second title in submission grappling against Yuki Takahashi. Former champions like Yosuke Saruta and Felipe Lobo will also compete as they try to return to the top of their divisions. Later, on May 29, the organization will host 'The Inner Circle,' which highlights Lebanese siblings Ramadan and Abdallah Ondash. Ramadan, a flyweight Muay Thai fighter, will face the experienced veteran Suriyanlek Por Yenying. This match will test Ramadan's knockout power against Suriyanlek's extensive career experience. Meanwhile, in the strawweight Muay Thai division, Abdallah Ondash will fight Denkriangkrai Mavinn Muaythai. Abdallah enters the ring with a strong series of knockout wins, whereas Denkriangkrai is currently on a five-fight winning streak.

Conclusion

The May schedule in Bangkok will be decisive for several world titles and will determine the future rankings of both new stars and experienced veterans.

Learning

⚡ The Power of Contrast: Moving Beyond 'But'

At the A2 level, we usually connect opposite ideas with simple words like but or and. To reach B2, you need to show 'Contrast Logic'—telling the reader how two things are different using sophisticated connectors.

The Linguistic Goldmine from the Text: Look at how the article describes the fighters. It doesn't just say "Tang is good at striking but Gasanov is good at grappling." Instead, it uses a Comparison Framework:

"...it matches Tang's strong striking skills against Gasanov's expertise in grappling."

Why this is a B2 move: Using 'against' or 'whereas' transforms a simple sentence into a professional analysis. It creates a "clash" in the reader's mind, which is exactly how high-level English works.

🛠️ Level-Up Your Vocabulary

Stop using generic words. The article uses "Precision Adjectives" to describe experience. Instead of saying "he has a lot of experience" (A2), use these B2 patterns found in the text:

  • Extensive career experience →\rightarrow (Use this when the amount of time is very large).
  • Experienced veteran →\rightarrow (Use this to describe a person who is a master of their craft).
  • Decisive →\rightarrow (Use this instead of "very important" when a result will change the future).

💡 Pro Tip for Fluency: Notice the phrase "whereas Denkriangkrai is currently on a five-fight winning streak."

Whereas is a B2 superpower. It allows you to balance two facts in one sentence.

  • A2 Style: He is strong. He is also fast.
  • B2 Style: He is strong, whereas his opponent is fast.

Quick Guide to 'Whereas': extFactAightarrowextCommaightarrowextwhereasightarrowextFactB ext{Fact A} ightarrow ext{Comma} ightarrow ext{whereas} ightarrow ext{Fact B}

Vocabulary Learning

championship
A competition to determine a champion.
Example:The championship match will decide the world champion.
defense
The act of protecting or guarding against an attack.
Example:He used a strong defense to block incoming strikes.
striking
The act of hitting an opponent.
Example:Her striking skills made her a formidable fighter.
grappling
The practice of wrestling or holding an opponent.
Example:His grappling expertise allowed him to win the match.
flyweight
A weight class for fighters around 125 pounds.
Example:The flyweight bout featured two lightweight fighters.
kickboxing
A combat sport combining punches and kicks.
Example:He trained in kickboxing to improve his striking.
submission
A technique that forces an opponent to surrender.
Example:She won the match with a submission hold.
veteran
A fighter with many years of experience.
Example:The veteran brought years of experience to the ring.
knockout
A finish that renders an opponent unable to continue.
Example:The knockout ended the fight instantly.
experience
Knowledge or skill gained from practice.
Example:His experience helped him anticipate opponents' moves.
division
A category or group within a sport.
Example:She competes in the strawweight division.
decisive
Having a clear or final impact.
Example:The decisive win secured his title.
rankings
Lists that rank competitors.
Example:The rankings determine who fights for the title.
vacant
Not currently held by anyone.
Example:The vacant title was up for grabs.
strawweight
A weight class for fighters up to 115 pounds.
Example:The strawweight fight was intense.
defend
To protect or guard a title.
Example:He will defend his title against a new challenger.
expertise
Specialized skill or knowledge.
Example:Her expertise in grappling made her a top contender.
attempting
Trying to achieve something.
Example:He was attempting to win a second title.
future
Time that is yet to come.
Example:The future rankings will change after the event.
series
A set of related events or actions.
Example:He has a strong series of knockout wins.
streak
A consecutive run of successes.
Example:Her five-fight winning streak impressed fans.
return
To come back to a previous state.
Example:She is trying to return to the top of her division.
top
Highest or best position.
Example:He aims to stay at the top of his division.
experienced
Having many years of practice.
Example:The experienced fighter used his knowledge to win.