Asian mixed martial arts (MMA) has really taken off in the past few years, due to ONE Championship’s efforts to develop local, homegrown talent. The foundation has been laid out in the region, with a plethora of different martial arts gyms opening up across all corners of Asia.
Unsurprisingly, a few of the most talented up-and-coming prospects have also emerged as a result — fighters who possess the intangible trifecta of skill, will, and charisma.
Here are the top 10 prospects in Asian MMA today.
Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev (4-0, 1NC), Lightweight, Russia
He is fast, extremely aggressive, and a fearsome finisher. The man they call “Dagi” has not met a challenger so far in his young career that he did not completely dominate. With all four of his wins coming in the first round, comprised of one submission and three knockouts, the Russian slugger is one of the most talented men at lightweight.
He has averaged just under a minute of cage time in each outing, proving how overwhelmingly powerful he is. We have not really seen how Arslanaliev can handle a truly live opponent, but that is not his fault. No one he was ever in the cage with seemed willing to give him a real fight.
It will not be long until we see “Dagi” in bigger, more significant bouts, however, but until then we will not be able to fully understand the extent of his overall capabilities as a fighter. But with what he has shown so far in the short time that we have seen him, the man is an absolute force to be reckoned with.
Christian “The Warrior” Lee (5-1), Featherweight, Singapore
18-year-old Christian Lee is the youngest prospect on this list, but what he lacks in overall experience he more than makes up for with incredible raw talent, and an undying passion to achieve his dreams of being one of the best to ever compete in the history of the sport.
Lee is one of the most dynamic fighters in the game right now, with lightning- quick strikes from different angles coupled with his robust grappling technique. Despite learning his first lesson in a recent loss to Martin Nguyen, Lee remains one of the most talented competitors at featherweight.
The way he trains in an unorthodox manner lends a lot to his unique skill set. One of his biggest advantages over opponents is that he is highly unpredictable, and his foes have a difficult time figuring out what he is going to do next. With his swift in-and-out movement, Lee is able to freeze his opponents both physically and mentally before he goes in for the spectacular finish.
Agilan “Alligator” Thani (6-0),Welterweight, Malaysia
In a case of talent meets hard work, Malaysia’s Agilan Thani has certainly put in the man hours to become who he is today — one of the most promising welterweights in all of Asia. Investing his previous fight purses in overseas development, Thani has spent time in the United States going from gym to gym to pick up world-class training in various disciplines including wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
The end result has been phenomenal thus far, with Thani maintaining an unblemished record which includes three wins by submission and three by knockout. To say that Thani loves to get guys out of there early is an understatement. Five of his six opponents did not even make it past the first round.
Thani has shown great strength and technique in his victories, two intensely desirable qualities in a top contender. But what is truly remarkable about this young man is that at 21-years of age, there appears to be no ceiling as to what he can accomplish in this sport.
More impressively, he originally took up MMA to lose weight, shedding almost 60kg and becoming one of the best athletes in Malaysia to get to where he is today.
Istela Nunes (5-0, 1NC), Women’s Atomweight, Brazil
Istela Nunes is one of the hardest working females in the game right now. Despite being just 24 years of age, Nunes is undefeated in five bouts, and has already figured in some grueling bouts including her most recent —a tough excursion against Japanese MMA veteran Mei Yamaguchi.
Nunes debuted in ONE Championship against Yamaguchi, and gave the Japanese fighter all she could handle for three whole rounds. Coming from pretty much relatively unknown to defeating one of the most established females in Asian MMA is no easy task, but Nunes did so with confidence and a true sense of grit and determination.
That one victory alone showed Nunes is a proven commodity, and whoever she faces next should be well-prepared to combat her in every aspect. Could she be next in line for a shot at the title? Possibly. With talent as great as hers, it would hardly be a surprise.
Li Kai Wen (6-3), Featherweight, China
China’s top featherweight is one of the fastest starters in all of Asian MMA. Opponents have to keep constantly on the defensive when they step inside the cage with Li Kai Wen, because he will capitalize on any opening he can manage to find.
There is an inherent beauty in watching Li looking to finish guys with his heavy hands in every strike he throws. There is nowhere to hide from this man once you step inside the cage with him. No matter how great a fighter’s defense is, Li will bring the fight directly to an opponent’s doorstep, forcing them to engage and roll the dice.
Sometimes it works out in his favor, and sometimes it does not, but there is no denying the fact that Li has the ability provide answers to even the biggest questions regarding his foes.
Ahmed “The Wolverine” Mujtaba (6-0), Featherweight, Pakistan
With five of his six wins so far as a professional coming by submission, Ahmed Mujtaba is not known for his striking chops, but he showed in his last fight that should push come to shove, he is as good as the rest of them.
Against Singapore’s Benedict Ang, Mujtaba outclassed his opponent en route to a unanimous decision, covering all bases of the fight game. From stand-up battles to technical exchanges on the mat, Mujtaba just has that intangible ability to outsmart and outmaneuver his foes.
He is Pakistan’s top MMA talent right now and given his overall well-roundedness, big things are in store for “The Wolverine”.
Danny Kingad (4-0) Flyweight, Philippines
Newcomer Danny Kingad is only two fights into his ONE Championship career, and already he has had some spectacular moments in the promotion.
In the two instances we have seen Kingad in the ONE Championship cage, he decimated both Muhammad Haidar and countryman Eugene Toquero, with the Toquero bout coming as a complete shock.
When the match against his fellow Filipino warrior was made, many predicted it would be Kingad’s first real test due to Toquero’s dangerous striking. But Kingad proved that his grappling was much better than advertised, as he disposed of Toquero quite easily, which no one really expected.
At his best, Kingad is a complete mixed martial artist and at such a young age is poised for a highly successful career. And what’s even more appealing is that he can only get better. His dominance over Toquero just shows that what he lacks in experience, Kingad more than makes up for in pure potential.
Keanu Subba (4-2), Featherweight, Malaysia
Although Keanu Subba has had a couple of setbacks in his young career, Subba always makes it a point to learn from his experiences, and apply his adjustments in the next bout.
Once on par with Christian Lee who shares a place on this list, Subba was hobbled by injuries, which has hampered his progress. As a result, Subba took his time in getting his health in order, and now he is ready to reap what he has sown. In his most recent outing, Subba got back on track with a first-round TKO over Waqar Umar.
At 22, Subba is a sponge, learning from experience as well as constant study of various fight disciplines. Besides analyzing video of his opponents, Subba once said that he also watches other fighters, seeing elements he can incorporate into his own repertoire.
Ma Hao Bin (4-1), Bantamweight, China
22-year-old Chinese fighter “The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin is the ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (CHANGSHA) Bantamweight Tournament Champion.
He has beaten fellow top bantamweight and compatriot Bu Huo You Ga as well as Cambodia’s Chan Rothana in intense encounters inside the ONE Championship cage, but what truly sets Ma apart from the competition is his ability to keep calm under duress.
The smooth operator can defend well against aggressive opponents, and has the presence of mind to stick to his game plan and do what is necessary for victory. Aside from his terrific striking skills, Ma also employs a well-rounded grappling game, which he has proven with two of his four wins coming by submission.
Tiffany “Soul Crusher” Teo (4-0), Women’s Flyweight, Singapore
28-year-old Tiffany Teo began her professional MMA career relatively late in life, but has already amassed an unblemished 4-0 pro-record. She made her ONE Championship debut against Walaa Abbas last November, winning by second-round submission in her first appearance on the big stage.
It was a tremendous performance from the Singaporean, who completely dominated the fight from start to finish against a scrappy Egyptian fighter with a tendency to make fights look ugly. Teo comes from a Muay Thai background, but has recently added Brazilian jiu-jitsu to complete the total package.
She got her nickname the “Soul Crusher” because she wanted to shake off her “girl next door” image and wanted to let people know she means serious business. However, her moniker ended up actually fitting her very well, as the moment she steps into the cage she transforms into a completely different person and sets out to break her opponent’s spirit.
