Former ONE Championship heavyweight competitor Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida is set to step into the UFC ring for the first time against Martin Buday in Abu Dhabi. Coincidentally, Almeida will be the second athlete from the Singaporean league, ONE, to participate in the event. The other athlete is ex-two-weight champion Reiner de Ridder, who is scheduled to clash with Robert Whittaker in the premier match.
ONE Championship has traditionally served as a platform distinct from UFC, offering a unique mix of fighters including Bibiano Fernandes, Shinya Aoki, and the sibling duo of Angela and Christian Lee. Lately though, ONE has set more Muay Thai and kickboxing matches as compared to MMA contests. As a result, various ONE MMA fighters, even the reigning champions, have expressed dissatisfaction, a factor that was instrumental in de Ridder moving on from the league.
Given this context, there are a few distinguished fighters in the current roster of ONE Championship who might consider following suit. An important aspect to bear in mind is that weight classes in ONE Championship are classically 10 lbs. heavier. For example, where an atomweight class is usually 105 lbs., it is 115 lbs. in ONE Championship. Other categories that follow this rule include lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight with distinct weights.
One fighter poised to make waves in the UFC is ‘Reug Reug’ Oumar Kane, who is the reigning heavyweight champion in ONE Championship. Kane rose to prominence after making a shocking upset against Anatoly Malykhin and clinching the title. A physical powerhouse, he crams 258 pounds into his six-foot frame.
Kane’s wrestling prowess is notable, boasting an undefeated stretch in sixteen bouts in ‘lutte avec frappe’, a traditional Senegalese wrestling style, prior to his transition to MMA. Given his athletic acumen, he could be a highly prospective entrant for Dana White’s UFC, notably due to his African heritage positioning him to boost UFC’s reach in Africa.
There is an added layer of excitement to Kane’s potential transition to UFC. His triumphant streak includes a decision win over Almeida, the former ONE Championship heavyweight competitor. This sets the perfect stage for a compelling rematch between the two, should they both ascend as contenders in the UFC ring.
Similarly, Roberto ‘Robocop’ Soldic is widely recognized as one of the finest fighters outside the UFC circuit. His achievements speak volumes, having claimed a championship title in nearly every league he’s participated in. His stint in KSW, a Polish MMA promotion, stands as a testament to his formidable talent, where he held welterweight and middleweight titles.
While Soldic’s impressive record precedes him, his current stint does demonstrate room for growth. After a debut marred by an accidental knee, followed by a second match ending in knock-out, Soldic proved his mettle by bouncing back decisively. His triumphant comeback culminated in a knockout victory, positioning him as a credible contender for a title shot.
Notably, Stamp Fairtex has carved out history, being the first athlete, irrespective of gender, to secure championships in three combat sports: MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing. Presently, she’s on medical leave, following a surrendered MMA atomweight title due to complications in her recovery from a knee injury.
When fully fit, Fairtex is a multidimensional fighter. Known for her striking maneuvers, she also excels in ground techniques as evidenced by her two submission victories. Given the dearth of top-tier competition in her weight class, her comprehensive set of skills could propel her to the uppermost ranks in the contest.
It’s important to clarify that the perception of ONE’s MMA fighters as subpar is far from reality. The point instead is to identify potential migration of talent amid rumors of ONE potentially scaling back its MMA operations.
These three athletes—Kane, Soldic, and Fairtex—stand as probable candidates who might consider taking their skills to new leagues. They are arguably the most distinguished fighters within ONE’s current roster.
Aside from this trio, the existing roster does boast respectably talented fighters. But none has the standing or reputation matching Kane, Soldic, or Fairtex.
In considering this, it seems plausible that the landscape of UFC could soon be reshaped by these outstanding athletes, presenting fans with potential thrilling matchups and ushering in a refreshing phase of competition.