ONE Fight Night 36 Results: Aung La N Sang Wins Retirement Match, Malachiev Chokes Out Brooks
ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II kicked off with intensity on Friday, October 3, live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok, Thailand.
The first eight matches, which were spread across MMA, Muay Thai, and submission grappling, brought a mix of quick finishes and gritty contests. They also produced results that could shake up multiple divisions.
A legendary farewell in the co-main event capped the festivities, adding an emotional moment that ONE Championship’s global fan base will never forget.
With the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title unification bout still to come, here’s everything that went down in the first eight matches at ONE Fight Night 36.
Aung La N Sang Scores TKO, Earns Hall Of Fame Induction
Legendary former two-division ONE World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang wrote the final glorious chapter of his storied MMA career in the co-main event, and then he learned that he would be inducted into the ONE Championship Hall of Fame at ONE 173 in Tokyo, Japan, on November 16.
Myanmar’s first-ever World Champion defeated former welterweight king Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam in a middleweight MMA clash to earn the accolade, and the bout was filled with tension.
From the opening stanza, both men picked their shots with precision and care, each trying to find holes in the other’s game, each trying not to get countered. But as round one came and went, so did the hesitancy from Aung La N Sang.
In the second canto, the man who strapped on the 4-ounce gloves for the last time began lighting up his temporary friend-turned-rival with short, thumping punches. The damage began to show first on Kadestam’s face and then in his will to fight.
Backed against the ropes, the Swede had nowhere to go. He shelled up and absorbed a flurry of punches, knees, and more blows from “The Burmese Python.” Aung La N Sang then blasted “The Bandit” with a right hand, and the latter crumpled near the corner of the ring.
The 40-year-old icon continued to pummel his opponent until the referee stopped the action at the 2:20 mark, rewarding one of the promotion’s most revered fighters with the 31st win of his career. He also took home a US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Malachiev Puts Brooks To Sleep With Submission
Mansur Malachiev and Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks – the top two contenders in the strawweight MMA division – moved up to flyweight, and the results were stunning.
After a back-and-forth opening stanza, Malachiev found his breakthrough moment in the second frame, as he sunk in a merciless north-south choke that put the former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion to sleep.
The python-like technique came after the Russian lifted Brooks onto his shoulder, jumped into the air, and then came crashing down into the canvas. The impact rattled the American, who desperately reached for his opponent’s legs.
But that left his neck wide open for the choke. Malachiev, the #2-ranked strawweight MMA contender, recognized this and capitalized on the opportunity immediately. The Russian went for a headlock, turned it into a north-south choke, and squeezed with all his might. Seconds later, Brooks went limp, and the referee stopped the action at the 2:09 mark of round two.
The submission victory not only upped Malachiev’s record to 14-1, but it may have also earned him a spot in the top-five flyweight MMA rankings.
Isojima Stays Undefeated With Second-Round TKO Of Vigna
ONE Fight Night 36 kicked off with an explosive lightweight MMA bout between undefeated Japanese promotional newcomer Shozo Isojima and Argentine star Nicolas “El Paisa” Vigna.
The two mixed martial artists collided in the center of the ring like two rams. The Japanese debutant landed the takedown, but Vigna hung tough and did his best to neutralize his rival’s attacks.
But when the bout entered round two, ONE’s global fan base saw Isojima dominate. He swarmed his opponent, secured double underhooks, then tripped Vigna to the canvas. From there, the judoka shimmied to mount, and he sent elbows and punches crashing into Vigna’s face until the referee stopped the action at 4:19 of the second frame.
The victory improved Isojima’s record to 6-0 and earned him a US$50,000 performance bonus.
Ortikov, Zakirov, Guluzada, Andrey, And Flores Claim Big Wins
Following an impeccable run in the ONE Friday Fights event series in Asia primetime, undefeated Uzbek wrecking ball Aslamjon Ortikov continued his reign of dominance at ONE Fight Night 36.
The 22-year-old was too sharp and too quick for #4-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Kongthoranee Sor Sommai, and a second-round knockdown courtesy of a left cross-overhand right combination sealed him the unanimous decision to move his flawless record to 23-0.
Fourth-ranked flyweight MMA contender Sanzhar “Tornado” Zakirov dominated #5-ranked “Wolf Warrior” Hu Yong across three rounds to capture the unanimous decision victory.
The win, which nudged his pristine slate to 16-0, could position him as the next challenger for ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu, should he defeat strawweight king Joshua “The Passion” Pacio at ONE 173 on November 16.
Halfway through the card, Akif “King” Guluzada defeated surging contender Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi by unanimous decision on the strength of a first-round knockdown.
As a result, the 20-year-old Azerbaijani phenom elevated his record to 20-3 and might have pushed the Thai off the #5 spot in the flyweight Muay Thai rankings.
BJJ stars Fabricio “Hokage” Andrey and Eduardo “Dudu” Granzotto renewed their rivalry under the ONE banner in a riveting featherweight submission grappling bout.
This time, Andrey earned his redemption, as he left the squared circle with a unanimous decision win to even the series with his Brazilian compatriot 1-1 and lift his record to 103-27.
Earlier in the night, multiple-time WBC Muay Thai World Champion Selina “Teep Queen” Flores enjoyed a successful promotional debut.
The American scored a unanimous decision in her atomweight Muay Thai battle against former ONE World Title challenger Marie “The Celtic Queen” McManamon, moving her career slate to 9-1 and extending her winning streak to five.
