5 Dream Matches That Would Make History In 2019

The best is yet to come from ONE Championship in 2019.

In 2018, the world’s largest martial arts organization promoted some of the greatest bouts ever seen in rings and cages around the world. Heroes shone on the global stage, and new superstars emerged.

That has helped to attract even more of the world’s top talent to The Home Of Martial Arts, as more and more world champions are added to the roster in mixed martial arts and ONE Super Series.

The combination of established names and exciting fresh talent means that fans have begun to anticipate some blockbuster battles in 2019 that could go down in combat sports history.

Here are five dream match-ups that could happen if the stars align in the next year. 

Aung La N Sang VS Brandon Vera

ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera returned to action in November, defending his belt with an emphatic KO over Italy’s Mauro Cerilli.

Vera stated that he would be more active in 2019, and immediately suggested a drop to the light heavyweight division for a face-off with current World Champion, “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang.

The Myanmar hero has never been one to turn down a challenge. He is currently the ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion, and even faced off against the hulking Alain Ngalani in an open-weight super-bout last year.

Vera has made no secret about his desire to compete in Tokyo, Japan. If he gets his wish, this clash of World Champions could go down at ONE: GREATNESS UNLEASHED in October.

If it does, these warriors’ 34 finishes in their combined 40 victories suggest they would deliver unmissable action.

Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex VS Giorgio Petrosyan

One of the bouts on everyone’s lips is the potential meeting between striking legends “The Hero” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex and Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan.

Thailand’s Yodsanklai is an all-time great in Muay Thai, while Italy’s Petrosyan forged the same reputation in kickboxing – though both have competed under the other’s favored discipline in the past.

Fans and pundits alike have made arguments that each could be considered the best stand-up martial artist of their era, and now they are under the ONE banner, a match-up could determine who is superior once and for all. 

“The Boxing Computer” and “The Doctor” earned their monikers for near-perfect technique and craftsmanship in the ring. Martial arts fans around the world want to see what happens when their skill sets clash.

They are both in their physical prime, and now could be the perfect time to bring them together. Putting ONE Super Series gold on the line could be the icing on the cake to make it happen. 

Shinya Aoki VS Eddie Alvarez III

Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez’s signing to ONE was one of the biggest martial arts news stories of 2018. The American is as exciting as he is successful, with world titles from the two biggest promotions in North America.

Straight away, speculation began as to who he might face in ONE Championship. His entry into the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix could generate three marquee match-ups with elite athletes, and most of them could offer a brand new challenge for the veteran of 36 professional bouts.

However, he also has unfinished business with an old rival – Shinya “The Tobikan Judan” Aoki.

A rubber match could settle the score between two of the greatest lightweights in history. “Tobikan Judan” needed just 90 seconds to submit Alvarez the first time they met 10 years ago, but Alvarez returned the favor with a first-round TKO in 2012.

This has all the makings of a classic trilogy bout. This time, if the chips fall in a certain way, ONE gold could add even more prestige to it.

Kairat Akhmetov VS Demetrious Johnson

Like his compatriot Alvarez, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson’s entrance into the world’s largest martial arts organization turned heads all over the planet.

Johnson defended his UFC Flyweight World Title a record 11 times to become the most dominant world champion in mixed martial arts history, and ONE athletes were thrilled to have him as part of the flyweight ranks.

Many will jump at the chance to take on a bonafide legend, but Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov was the first to make his voice heard.

“It would be a pleasure to measure strength with such a great champion,” Akhmetov said.

Like Johnson, “The Kazakh” was a wrestler before making the switch to mixed martial arts, and the former ONE World Champion would be a formidable first opponent for “Mighty Mouse” in Asia.

Perhaps a clash between these elite competitors could feature in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix?

Angela Lee VS Xiong Jing Nan

The stage was ready for the biggest women’s bout in ONE Championship history – a World Champion versus World Champion bout between “Unstoppable” Angela Lee and “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan.

Just days out from their scheduled contest for the ONE Strawweight World Title at ONE: HEART OF THE LION in Singapore, 22-year-old Lee had to withdraw from the epic encounter due to injury, derailing her dreams of being a two-weight World Champion, or at least postponing them.

When the Evolve representative returns to full fitness, this is still a bout that would hold the same allure. Xiong’s aggression, size, and striking would give the unbeaten Lee her greatest challenge to date, but the Singaporean star has the belief in her ability to overcome the odds.

Two of the promotion’s most dominant champions will surely meet at some point, and when their paths cross in 2019, it will be essential viewing.