KEY POINTS

  • ONE X's marquee fighters proudly flex their readiness for the tentpole event
  • Angela Lee is confident of winning against Stamp Fairtex despite the two-year layoff
  • Demetrious Johnson displays his Muay Thai skills in preparation for his fight with Rodtang Jitmuangnon

Fans flocked the OCBC Square of the Singapore Sports Hub in anticipation of catching a glimpse of the action that can take place on ONE Championship’s 10th-anniversary show dubbed as “ONE X” on Saturday, March 26.

Eight fighters gave a preview of their current shape and conditioning with only two days away from the much-awaited event, which happens at the 12,000-capacity Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Angela Lee and Stamp Fairtex, who are scheduled to face each other in the main event for the ONE women’s atomweight championship, spearheaded the open workouts.

On the eve of her fifth title defense, Lee seemed to be enjoying the moment after almost two years on the sidelines for giving birth to her first child as she smiled and worked on the punch mitts with her longtime trainer and father Ken.

“I am excited to show you what I’ve been working on, and I feel that I am better than ever. Honestly, I’ve been putting in some work and just working on growing and developing as a martial artist,” the champion said before she stepped inside the ring.

Lee shared that she does not need to look too far for motivation as she and her husband Bruno Pucci have brought their daughter with them in Singapore.

“Of course, with my daughter here in Singapore, it’s the best motivation for me. So you guys are in for a treat on Saturday,” she stated.

Angela Lee
Reigning ONE atomweight champion Angela Lee enjoyed her open sparring session held at the Singapore Sports Hub ahead of ONE X on March 26, 2022. ONE Championship

On the other hand, Stamp flaunted her sharp striking combinations that made her a world titleholder in both Muay Thai and kickboxing under the ONE Championship banner.

The Thai heroine also showed off her improving submission game, pulling an armbar and then latching on a guillotine choke towards the end.

The ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix winner guns to capture another belt at the expense of Lee on Saturday, which will insert her name in record books as the most decorated ONE Championship athlete and the first three-sport world champion.

“The reason that I will be fighting at ONE X this Saturday is because I want to win that third belt in MMA,” Stamp stressed through a translator.

Stamp Fairtex
ONE Women's Atomweight Grand Prix winner Stamp Fairtex brought out her sharp striking skills to the open sparring sessions ahead of ONE X. ONE Championship

Also in attendance for the public training are Demetrious Johnson, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Adriano Moraes, Yuya Wakamatsu, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and Felipe Lobo.

Johnson is set to battle Rodtang under hybrid rules as both men will alternate from all-striking to MMA across four three-minute rounds at ONE X.

With the help of teammate and fellow ONE Championship competitor James Yang, “Mighty Mouse” telegraphed kicks and punches as his way to tell the live crowd that he is prepared to go to war against a Muay Thai sensation like Rodtang,

“It (training in Muay Thai) has been going well. I always train Muay Thai in all of my training camps. If you’re going to look at my past fights, I got some finishes with my Muay Thai clinch. I am going to go out there and display that I can hang with the best in the world in Muay Thai,” Johnson declared.

Rodtang Jitmuangnon
ONE Flyweight Muay Thai Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon prepares for his hybrid MMA - Muay Thai rules fight at ONE X on March 26, 2022. ONE Championship

Meanwhile, Rodtang did not hold back with his strikes when he got his share of the spotlight during the open workout as his power shots reverberated throughout the venue.

“Definitely, I want him (Johnson) to face and fight me in the first round. If we go past the first round, I am going to go on and show my skills in mixed martial arts,” Rodtang remarked through an interpreter.

In one of the five world title fights at ONE X, Moraes puts his flyweight belt on the line against Wakamatsu.

Moreover, Nong-O stakes his Muay Thai bantamweight championship versus Lobo in a five-round collision.