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Mathew Scott

ONE Championship got things done in 2020, putting on fight cards when that looked, for a while, to be nigh on impossible, and providing nights of high drama when those events came to fruition.
There were new champions crowned at middleweight (Dutchman Reinier De Ridder) and at featherweight (Vietnamese-American Thanh Le). There was further proof that Xiong Jingnan owns the strawweight division, with the Chinese fighter’s fourth defence of her crown.




“2020 has been a tough year, but above all we were able to showcase the resilience of the human spirit,” is how ONE group president Teh Hua Fung reflects on the 12 months.
A lull in the action has us looking to 2021, and to better times, so here are the leading storylines SCMP MMA is waiting to explore:

Demetrious Johnson-Adriano Moraes
The date has been set (February 24) and it’s the fight we’ve been waiting for, ever since ONE signed “Mighty Mouse” (30-3-1) in 2018. The American great – or GOAT (greatest of all time) to many around the world – has done all that’s been required since fixing his attention on Asia, with three straight wins, over Yuya Wakamatsu (13-4), Tatsumitsu Wada (22-12-2, one no contest) and Danny Kingad (14-2), to win the flyweight grand prix back in October 2019. In Brazilian star Moraes (18-3), he gets the man who has loomed large over the division since 2013, with a 9-3 run that includes three stints as champion, including his current run. Both fighters – at 34 (Johnson) and 31 (Moraes) – have deep ties with ground games dating back to their formative years. The record shows 12 submissions for Johnson, while Moraes boasts nine, so we’re looking at a tactical master class.

Life with the Lees
What a year ahead for ONE’s favourite family. Away from the Circle, atomweight queen Angela (10-2) is expecting her first child with husband (and ONE bantamweight) Bruno Pucci (7-5), while little brother (and lightweight champ) Christian (14-3) and wife Katie are expecting their own little bundle of BJJ to arrive at the family’s Hawaii base.
Angela has vowed to return to defend her belt at some stage, while Christian has a long list of fighters eyeing off his. “My dream result for 2021 is to defend my belt twice and to clear out the lightweight division’s top-ranked contenders, whoever it may be. Timofey [Nastyukhin], Eddie [Alvarez] and whoever else makes their way up to the top,” says Christian. And little sister Victoria – at 16 years old turning into the New Year – will be angling for a debut at some stage soon, given that her siblings kicked off their ONE careers at 18 (Angela) and 17 (Christian).

Weight of expectation
And talk of Angela Lee’s return leads us straight to ONE’s atomweights and the grand prix the organisation has lined up. Who might be involved – and when – have yet to be announced. Word that South Korean star Ham Seo-hee (23-8) had signed with ONE – or was about to, or something – further sparked into life thoughts of what might be possible with this particular tournament.
In the likes of rising stars such as the Philippines’ Denice Zamboanga (5-0), there have already been challenges looming to the division Lee has ruled since 2016, and across four title defences. If Ham indeed comes into the picture, the 33-year-old brings a wealth of experience, across a stint in the UFC and titles with Rizin, Road FC and Deep Jewels. The fact that Zamboanga is already firing shots at Lee has simply added fuel to the fire.

Rise (and rise) of The Lion Killer
Garry Tonon arrived at ONE in 2017 to cast his eye around – and to the future. First up was a grappling match with former lightweight champ Shinya Aoki, which saw the American tie the Japanese veteran in knots. “The Lion Killer” liked what he witnessed in and around the organisation and set to dedicating himself to MMA in the manner to which his legion of fans in the grappling world were accustomed.
The 29-year-old doesn’t do things by halves and across a 6-0 stretch now he has amped up the level of competition, and the manner of victory. Tonon is one of modern BJJ’s greats and it’s been fascinating to see him expand his repertoire, both in the Circle and in front of the press. He’s been fighting among the featherweights, but wants more, and who’s going to stop him? “Ideal 2021 would be getting both belts – featherweight and lightweight,” he said after beating Japan’s Koyomi Matsushima (12-5) last time out. “Bare minimum one title.”

Aung La and the road to redemption
OK, so one loss across eight fights and three years is no time to panic. And that’s the last thing we’d expect from “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang (26-11, one no contest) given his vast experience in the sport. But the 36-year-old looked completely out of sorts in losing his middleweight crown to De Ridder (13-0), via first-round submission (rear naked choke) at October’s Inside the Matrix.
Yes, he’d dealt with the coronavirus during the course of 2020, and like most fighters he had been mostly sitting around and waiting for the chance to fight. But Aung La wasn’t looking for any excuse afterwards. Better fighter, on the night, he said. What we’re looking forward to now is the possibility of an angry Aung La, harking back to the man possessed when he took the middleweight crown from Russian Vitaly Bigdash in 2017.


UFC: Zhang Weili to fight Rose Namajunas ‘this year and in Asia,’ says Dana White

Will 2021 be best year yet for Hong Kong sport? Olympic medal hopefuls abound for Tokyo

When is the Hong Kong Sevens? A (provisional) Hong Kong sports calendar for 2021

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Sporting year in review 2020

ONE Championship: five storylines to watch in 2021 as Garry Tonon, Demetrious Johnson go for gold

Garry Tonon catches a kick from Koyomi Matsushima. Photo: ONE Championship

Demetrious Johnson speaks to Dom Lau.

ONE Championship Event Pictures 6 Aung La N Sang vs Reinier de Ridder in Singapore PHOTO: Handout

Christian Lee poses his ONE Championship lightweight title.

Garry Tonon celebrates his won over Koyomi Matsushima.

=== PHOTO CAPTURED ONLINE=== ONE Championship lightweight champ Christian Lee with his siblings Victoria Lee (second left), Adrian Lee (second right and ONE atomweight champ Angela Lee (right).

ONE Championship: Adriano Moraes promises Demetrious Johnson ‘no respect, no mercy’

Adriano Moraes focuses on the job between rounds. Photos: ONE Championship

Mixed martial artist Demetrious Johnson holds the flyweight grand prix title.

UFC: Rose Namajunas coach hits back at Dana White claim – ‘absolutely not true, we want title fight’

Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas after her fight with Jessica Andrade at UFC 251 at Fight Island, Abu Dhabi in July. Photo: Instagram/Rose Namajunas

ONE Championship: Martin Nguyen promises Thanh Le ‘rematch will be different’ as rebuild begins

Martin Nguyen inside the ONE Circle at Inside The Matrix. Photos: ONE Championship

Thanh Le's arm is raised as Martin Nguyen looks on dejectedly.

Thanh Le catches Martin Nguyen.

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson vs Adriano Moraes flyweight title bout is set to help launch 2021 schedule
‘The Lion Killer’ Tonon looks to wrest featherweight belt from Thanh Le, while Aung La N Sang chases redemption



Garry Tonon and Demetrious Johnson go for gold, as Aung La N Sang chases redemption – here’s what to look forward to in ONE Championship in 2021.


ONE Championship

Demetrious Johnson

Angela Lee

Aung La N Sang

ONE Championship: five storylines to watch in 2021 as Garry Tonon, Demetrious Johnson go for gold

‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson vs Adriano Moraes flyweight title bout is set to help launch 2021 schedule ‘The Lion Killer’ Tonon looks to wrest featherweight belt from Thanh Le, while Aung La N Sang chases redemption

‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson vs Adriano Moraes flyweight title bout is set to help launch 2021 schedule

‘The Lion Killer’ Tonon looks to wrest featherweight belt from Thanh Le, while Aung La N Sang chases redemption