Michael And Mitch’s 2018 Highlights – The Knockouts

ONEchampionship.com

Everyone loves to see a knockout, and there are arguably no two men who get more of a kick out of a striking stoppage than ONE Championship commentators Michael Schiavello and Mitch Chilson.

The ONE Championship 2018 Knockout Of The Year and the ONE Super Series Knockout Of The Year awards have already gone to “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang and Petchdam Petchyindee Academy, respectively, but the “The Voice” and “The Dragon” went wild for much more in the last 12 months.

They saw every second of action in The Home Of Martial Arts this year from the best seats in the house, so for the best breakdowns of the most entertaining events from inside the cage, you could not find a pair of more qualified experts.

These are some of their favorite finishes from a year of awesome action.

Mitch: Li Kai Wen’s Lightning Strike

If you blinked, you might have missed this one.

“The Underdog” Li Kai Wen did not want to waste any time against Rodian Menchavez at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER. He walked forward, fired a punch, and finished the job.

It only took 10 seconds, and stands as the fastest finish in ONE featherweight history.

“This was the most exciting knockout of his entire career. A 10-second sleeping of Menchavez – very exciting!” says Chilson.

Michael: Jo Nattawut’s Piston Punches

For jaw-dropping speed and power, it is hard to look past “Smokin” Jo Nattawut and his first-round masterpiece against Yohann Fairtex Drai.

No man in any weight class could have stood up to the barrage of blows from the Thai hero, who earned his first ONE Super Series win in style at ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER.

“For sheer aggression, for sheer explosiveness, you cannot look past “Smokin” Jo Nattawut’s knockout of Yohann Fairtex Drai,” Schiavello explains.

“He heard the bell sound, and “Smokin” Jo pulled the pin on his grenade there and then. He went straight after Yohann Drai and absolutely obliterated him.”

Mitch: Shannon Wiratchai’s Heavy Hook 

Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai’s 21-second stoppage of Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju was like poetry in motion.

At home in Bangkok, Thailand, in front of his fans at ONE: IRON WILL, he showed nerves of steel to invite an attack from his opponent, and then artfully timed his counter strike to perfection to get the knockout with a single strike.

“I know from personal experience, you do not rush Shannon Wiratchai,” admits Chilson, who felt the force of his punches in 2013.

Michael: Petchdam’s Perfect Left Peg

If there was any doubt that Petchdam Petchyindee Academy deserved the ONE Super Series 2018 Knockout Of The Year, “The Voice” can settle the debate here and now.

The world’s foremost connoisseur of combat is a huge fan of the Thai star’s stoppage in his debut at ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER against Josh “Timebomb” Tonna.

He is also partial to his head-kick KO from his sophomore appearance on the global stage for martial arts against Kenny Tse at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES.

“That left roundhouse kick of Petchdam is the most dangerous striking weapon in all of ONE Super Series,” he says.

Mitch: Ramazanov’s Russian Thunder

Alaverdi Ramazanov was unknown to many outside of Muay Thai circles before his ONE debut, but no one would forget him after his quick-fire defeat of Andrew “Maddog Fairtex” Miller.

The Russian struck fast and hard, and planted the Scot inside a minute with a tremendous blow at ONE: HEART OF THE LION.

“Ramazanov went ‘David Blaine’ and levitated Andrew Miller with a beautiful uppercut,” Chilson says.

“You could see Andrew Miller go up, pause momentarily in mid-air, and then come crashing back to Earth.”

Aung La N Sang’s Unbelievable Uppercut

“The Voice” is in agreement with the onefc.com panel about the best knockout of 2018.

Aung La N Sang’s stunning fifth-round finish of Ken Hasegawa at ONE: SPIRIT OF A WARRIOR was unforgettable, and the favorite of a martial arts mastermind – as well as everyone in Myanmar.

“It was the highlight, the finale, of the greatest match in ONE Championship history,” Schiavello says.

“The uppercut of all uppercuts – I’ve never seen an uppercut have that impact.”

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