MMA News: Three Fighters Who Left Last Impression At ONE: NextGen II

Over the weekend, ONE NextGen II delivered high-octane action across the card, turning in one of the promotion's strongest events this year.

Here are the three fighters who impressed the most during the November 12 card.

Jo Nattawut Leaves No Doubt

"Smokin’" Jo Nattawut clinched himself a spot in the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix as an alternate after defeating Armenia’s Yurik Davtyan.

Coming off a loss to Giorgio Petrosyan in 2019, people wondered whether Nattawut’s knockout loss to the kickboxing legend was a fluke and the Thai standout proved it was a one-time thing.

It only took him one round to come away victorious after he caught the Armenian slacking, catching Davtyan with a left hook that stunned him before firing off his signature right cross to Davtyan’s chin.

Referee Justin Brown saw Davtyan stumble and fall right on top off his head as he was rising to his feet and promptly called off the fight.

Nattawut now awaits to enter the tourney should any of the four semifinalists in Marat Grigorian, David Kiria, Chingiz Allazov or Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong back out due to injury.

Tang Kai Shoots His Shot

Chinese featherweight Tang Kai has been calling out the promotion to have him face off against some of its ranked fighters, and he may have just forced their hand after knocking out Yoon Chang Min in the first round.

The two fighters had been trading barbs with each other prior to the fight, and it would be Tang who would have the last laugh.

Tang caught Yoon with a haymaker left hand, sending him back first into the mat where he would ground-and-pound the South Korean for the TKO victory.

His belief in himself once again pays off, and while the promotion would not automatically put him in the title picture, the winner between Gary Tonon and reigning featherweight champion Thanh Le should watch their backs as Tang is riding a blazing hot eight-fight win streak.

Rittewada Pulls Off Shocker On Saemapetch

In what was surely a cannot-miss main event, ONE Championship newcomer Rittewada Petchyindee Academy had one heck of a welcome as he faced No.1-ranked bantamweight Saemapetch Fairtex.

Saemapetch had Rittewada’s number as he knocked him down with his patented left straight, right hook combination and continued to dominate him as the fight went on.

During a rapid-fire exchange in the clinch however, Rittewada caught Saemapetch with a hellacious overhead elbow right on the eyebrow, which caused referee Olivier Coste to have the cut checked by the ringside doctors.

They deemed the cut to be too dangerous to fight with and awarded Rittewada the shocking TKO victory.

This being a title eliminator bought, Rittewada’s victory had derailed his fellow countryman’s goals of rematching Nong-O Gaiyanghadao for the bantamweight Muay Thai title and instead had placed himself squarely in front of the champion.