A groundbreaking 2024 International Women's Day card will give ONE Championship's female fighters a chance to shine on March 8th in prime time in the U.S. on Prime Video at ONE Fight Night 20: Todd vs. Pezilla. Ta.
The Lumpini Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, saw nine bouts, two world titles on the line, and a number of rising stars looking to make their mark.
With another exciting showcase in the background, here are five big takeaways from ONE Fight Night 20's unforgettable performance.
Pezilla is becoming an unstoppable superstar
“The Queen” Pezilla finished 2023 as the interim ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion after defeating pound-for-pound great Anissa Mexen. After unifying her divisional belts against Janet Todd last Friday, the Thai phenom is gearing up for a historic 2024.
The up-and-coming striker didn't have it easy against Todd, but her blistering speed and forward movement was enough to earn her a unanimous decision and become the undisputed ONE Women's Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion. was.
After wins over Todd and Mexen, the 22-year-old is arguably the best kickboxer in the world and should be added to any pound-for-pound list. Secondly, she has a lot of opportunities to make more history and she could become the “Queen” of the Muay Thai world.
During his undefeated and dominant run in ONE Championship, Pejilla has established himself as an unstoppable force and is well on his way to becoming an international superstar.
Janet Todd ends iconic career in style
Janet Todd's loss to Pezilla may have ended her illustrious career, but she never disappointed.
The 38-year-old American has achieved almost everything in both kickboxing and Muay Thai. And unlike her other athletes, she was never too late to retire. On Friday, the Boxing Works representative proved that she is still at the top of her game and one of the elite strikers in the atomweight division.
JT's competitive days may be over, but her influence will be felt for generations to come. As one of America's preeminent strikers, she has helped pave the way for the next great female warrior.
Todd always performed under the spotlight. She left it all in the ring and with or without a gold medal on her shoulders, she exited as a true champion.
Rodriguez keeps his promise to inspire
ONE Women's Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Alicia Helen Rodriguez defended her title against Spain's Cristina Morales after five rounds of skill.
The Brazilian took a methodical approach and showed off the “art of the eight limbs” against the determined Morales. In the first ONE World Title match between the two mothers, both fighters put in impressive performances, but Rodriguez was too sharp to be the challenger.
The 25-year-old wanted to use her performance to inspire women around the world, especially new mothers, and she definitely achieved that goal.
Since returning from giving birth to her first child, Rodriguez has unified and successfully defended her Atomweight Muay Thai gold medals. Her return to the top of the sport leaves no doubt that she is an example to all who aspire to greatness.
Jackie Buntan looks ready for world title rematch
Jackie Buntan is aiming for a rematch with ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Smira Sander. She may have punched her ticket with three straight wins at ONE Fight Night 20.
It wasn't easy for Martine Michieletto to attack, but Buntin assessed the distance and landed his signature left hook throughout the fight. A unanimous decision victory was enough for the Boxing Works striker.
Earlier in the evening, Sandel was interviewed in the ring and said he would be keeping a close eye on the contest. Now, the teen superstar knows her chances of a second date with the American are even more likely.
Since his only loss in ONE, Buntan has been on fire. After another stellar performance under her bright lights, the 26-year-old is aiming for women's strawweight gold.
New candidates stand out
Several newcomers have made the most of their opportunities and shake up their respective divisions.
Sil Cohen started the night on a high note with a second-round TKO of Teodora Kirilova in an atomweight Muay Thai contest. Cohen has proven himself to be a threat to everyone in the department.
After five exciting performances on ONE Friday Fights, Hong Kong phenom Yu Yau Pui returns to prime time in the U.S., showing more of why she's one of the most exciting strikers on the planet. I've proven it. Her relentless aggression earned her a unanimous decision victory over Lara Fernandez in the match.
Additionally, Chihiro Sawada defeated Jihin Razuan, who is ranked 5th in the atomweight mixed martial arts rankings. The undefeated Japanese athlete survived an early submission attempt and then rallied with his unique grappling game and ground-and-pound.
These three rising stars not only demonstrated the importance of seizing the moment, but also the depth of the roster of some of the most outstanding global fighters in the world.
