ONE Championship just announced a blockbuster co-main event
for ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 26 May.
Undefeated ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren (15-0, 1NC) will
put his title on the line against rising young Malaysian star Agilan
“Alligator” Thani (7-0).
The 21-year-old Thani is fresh off his most impressive
victory last February when he defeated Taiwanese MMA veteran Jeff Huang via
rear-naked choke. Following the win, Thani took the microphone and immediately
called for a shot at Askren, telling fans that he was ready for the big
leagues.
Askren, who is over 10 years Thani’s senior, hasn’t fought
since his five-round unanimous decision victory over Russia’s Nikolay
Aleksakhin in April of 2016. He signed with ONE Championship in 2014, winning
the ONE Welterweight World Championship in his second outing for the promotion with
a first-round technical knockout over Nobutatsu Suzuki.
Thani, on the other hand, made a name for himself as the Malaysian
Invasion MMA (MIMMA) welterweight champion, enjoying a successful amateur MMA
career before turning professional in December of 2013. All seven of the young
prospect’s wins since then have come impressively by finish, including four by
submission and three by knockout, with five taking place in the first round.
“We are excited to announce that ONE Welterweight World
Champion Ben Askren is back and he’s ready to welcome the young Agilan Thani to
the upper echelon of the division,” said Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Championship.
“It is going to be an awesome showdown of youth versus experience, on a night
fans will not want to miss.”
Thani made his intentions for a title shot known further
when he took to social media to personally call Askren out, goading the
defending champion into an exchange of verbal barbs on Facebook and Twitter.
After seven solid wins to start his pro career, Thani believes he is in the
best position to challenge for the title. The two have been going at it for the
past several weeks.
Askren of course, never one to back down from a challenge,
told fans he would gladly accept the fight. Now, with contracts signed, sealed,
and delivered, Askren is scheduled to face Thani in a showdown that is expected
to draw a massive Malaysian following.
Known as one of the best fighters in the entire world
pound-for-pound, Askren will once again put his world-class wrestling on
display. The former NCAA Division I All-American is a collegiate wrestling
legend who successfully transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2009. Throughout
his MMA career, Askren has amassed 15 solid victories with none of his
opponents offering much of a challenge.
Always dominant and ready to put on a show, Askren makes his
much-anticipated return to competition against Thani, whose base is also
heavily reliant on wrestling. Thani, in turn, will face the toughest test of
his young career.
ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES is set to also feature the return of
ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee (7-0), as she
makes her way back to Singapore to take on top contender Istela Nunes (6-0) of
Brazil in the night’s main event.
Additional bouts at ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES have yet to be
announced.
