Muay Thai

Trần Quốc Tuấn of Việt Nam (left) and his Japanese rival Yuya Jonishi will compete for the first time at the ONE Friday Fights 57, an event of the world's largest martial arts contest ONE Championship on March 29 in Bangkok, Thailand. — Photo of Shadow Entertainment

HÀ NỘI — Trần Quốc Tuấn will be the next Vietnamese representative at the ONE Friday Fights 57, a weekly fighting series of the ONE Championship, on March 29 in Bangkok, Thailand.

In his debut at this major world competition, the national high-ranking fighter will face Japanese rival Yuya Jonishi in the men's 69kg category at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

He is the third Vietnamese fighter at the ONE Championship event. Prior to him, world Muay Thai champion Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất and Lương Thành Phúc tested their skills here.

Tuấn, 29, is reigning WBC Muay Thai Việt Nam champion. He is an athlete of Shadow Entertainment and is training at the national leading Saigon Sports Club (SSC) under coach Nguyễn Kế Nhơn, national elite muay thai fighter who was the first Vietnamese to win the WBC Muay Thai belt.

In his later fight at the illustrious international four-man tournament entitled Muay Thai Rampage: One King Victory in Pride last September, Tuấn defeated English Mamouh Ali Mousa to take the winning title in the 68kg category.

He won silver at the National Muay Thai Clubs Championship's 71kg class earlier this year.

Jonishi can fight in different martial art genres such as muay thai, MMA and kickboxing. He took part in the JMMAF Kansai 22 in 2018 but lost in the first match.

Three years later he competed and won in the Taichi Waza Open Finger Championship (TWOFC) a pro muay thai event also in Japan.

In his latest match last December, Jonishi joined in a kickboxing event at the Nariagari Vol.3 and won.

A poster for the ONE Friday Fights 57 on March 29 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The ONE Friday Fights 57 features 11 other exciting bouts across MMA and muay Thai.

In the marquee slot, Alexey Balyko will try to extend his perfect promotional record to 3-0 against Panrit Lukjaomaesaiwaree in a 140-pound (63.5kg) catchweight contest. Panrit will try to get back-to-back wins on the global stage for the first time by stopping the Russian’s quick rise in the organisation.

The main event offers a chance for both men to stand out and make a big splash under the bright lights.

Petgarfield Jitmuangnon and Numpangna Eaglemuaythai will go toe-to-toe in a rematch of their meeting last October. After Petgarfield won the unanimous decision, Numpangna got a quick KO to earn a return date with his fellow Thai athlete to try and even their series.

Fabio Reis returns with a prime opportunity to regain lost momentum. Reis got a quick start to his ONE career that made him look like a surefire contender, but recent tough losses have set him back.

In a bantamweight (52kg) showdown, the Brazilian will try to get back in the win column against Soe Lin Oo, a winner in his ONE debut in February.

MMA will open the action in Lumpinee Boxing Stadium with two 163-pound (74kg) catchweight battles.

Khojinsa Komoldinova will take on Akari Ogata, followed by Mikhail Gritsanenko and Seiya Matsuda exchanging leather inside the ring.

ONE Friday Fights 57 airs live for free on ONE’s official YouTube channel. — VNS