On Sunday, 13 October, ONE: CENTURY PART I – the first installment of the epic double-header – was filled with incredible action, heart-stopping finishes, and amazing match-ups.
The historic 100th live event from ONE Championship delivered a martial arts showcase for the ages inside the iconic Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.
Now, just days removed from the show, we take a look back at three extraordinary performances from the unbelievable first half.
“The Warrior” Dominates “Dagi” To Become The ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Champion
Christian “The Warrior” Lee showed the world yet again why he is the ONE Lightweight World Champion.
Accepting the match on less than two weeks’ notice, Lee had only 10 days to prepare for his showdown against Saygid “Dagi” Guseyn Arslanaliev.
Yet, the Singaporean turned in a performance worthy of a true warrior and added a new World Championship belt to his trophy case.
“Dagi” started their match with a few early strikes and threatened with constant pressure. He channeled his fearsome power into a right uppercut, which briefly stunned the World Champion.
But Lee managed to evade the ensuing takedown attempt, and just before the close of the first stanza, the Singaporean dumped his rival to the canvas, got into top mount, and rained down blows.
The second round saw more of the same, and the 21-year-old continued to pour on the pressure when he again mounted “Dagi” at the close. Arslanaliev had no answer to the Singaporean phenom’s relentless aggression.
Lee ate all of Arslanaliev’s best shots, returned to his grapple-first game plan, and smothered any hopes of a Turkish resurgence.
He again took “Dagi” down, mounted him, and landed repeated blows to the Istanbul native until the final bell.
With this dominant display, a triumphant Lee moved his record to a stellar 13-3 and walked away with the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix belt draped over his shoulder.
“Mighty Mouse” Edges “The King” In ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship Final Thriller
Flyweight legend Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and martial arts sensation Danny “The King” Kingad put on a thriller for fans inside the Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Ultimately, it was the American who emerged with the unanimous decision to win the first ever ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship.
The Team Lakay star was the early aggressor and took the action to Johnson. This did not faze “Mighty Mouse,” who managed to score a takedown before slipping in a kimura on the Filipino.
“The King” defied the odds and slipped out of the submission attempt, but this fired up Johnson even more.
In the beginning of the second round, Kingad connected with a left hook, but Johnson successfully executed a double-leg takedown in the process. Amidst valiant attempts by “The King” to wrestle free, the American spent most of the second frame in control from top position.
The Baguio City native used his speed and athleticism to score his first and only takedown on the pound-for-pound great, but Johnson scrambled and resumed top position shortly afterward.
In the third frame, “Mighty Mouse” had the Team Lakay athlete in his clutches and continued to land a series of elbows and knees to the side of the Filipino.
After the final bell sounded, the judges awarded "Mighty Mouse” the unanimous decision win for his suffocating grappling performance.
With the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship added to his incredible list of accomplishments, Johnson now turns his attention to reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes.
“Unstoppable” Angela Lee Retains Her Gold With A Late Finish Over Xiong Jing Nan
The older and second half of the Lee siblings – “Unstoppable” Angela Lee – stepped up to avenge her loss to “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan back at ONE: A NEW ERA in March 2019.
She retained her ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title with a spectacular submission finish late in the fifth to cap off a dramatic first half of the greatest martial arts showcase in history.
Xiong and Lee began the first round exchanging strikes. The Chinese athlete’s power punches did not always connect, but when they did, they stung the defending World Champion.
“Unstoppable,” however, would not be deterred as she continued to push forward and engage the “The Panda.”
In the second stanza, the Singaporean scored a single-leg takedown and brought her foe to the canvas, and then she unloaded several punishing knees.
She rode this momentum into the third round and had the ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion propped up against the fence, where she delivered punches to her rival’s face.
Lee expertly transitioned to Xiong’s back and diligently searched for an opportunity to lock in a decisive submission. The Bali MMA representative put up a good defense, but Lee ended the third frame on a high note with several clean strikes to her opponent.
“The Panda” rallied well in the fourth stanza and managed to clip the atomweight queen with a two-punch combination and a strong left hook, which dropped the Singaporean hero.
Coming into the fifth and final round, Lee aimed to bring matters to a close. After some good clinch work, the United MMA and Evolve MMA representative slammed the Chinese athlete onto the mat and slipped in a rear-naked choke as the clock ticked on.
Xiong could not withstand the tight choke and was forced to tap out with just 12 seconds remaining in the contest.
The dramatic late finish moves Lee’s professional record to 10-2 and finally gives her the well-deserved redemption win.
Read More From ONE Championship:
ONE: CENTURY PART I – Full Results And Highlights For Lee Vs. Xiong II
Sam-A’s Second-Round Knockout And More Results From The ONE: CENTURY PART I Prelims
Janet Todd Stops Ekaterina Vandaryeva With Highlight-Reel Head Kick
