THE much-awaited ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix is set to kick off at ONE: A NEW ERA in Tokyo, Japan on 31 March.
The quarter-final bouts will feature eight of the finest flyweights in the world, including multiple-time World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat "The Kazakh" Akhmetov.
Ahead of the showdowns slated for the promotion's first live event in "The Land Of The Rising Sun," Malaysian sensation Gianni Subba shared his thoughts on the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix.
Akhmetov of Kazakhstan will lock horns with former ONE World Title challenger Reece “Lightning” McLaren of Australia.
McLaren is on a three-match winning streak, while Akhmetov bounced back from a defeat to claim a spectacular victory against China’s Ma Hao Bin.
Subba admitted it’s hard to pick a winner of the two as both of them are top-level grapplers.
“I cannot see a clear winner for this one. Reece is coming off an impressive victory against Tatsumitsu Wada and its proof that he can hang out with the guys in the flyweight division,” he said
“Kairat’s coming off a great victory against a tough opponent too, and I feel he’ll be more determined to get back to a winning streak.”
Meanwhile, Subba bared that he’s never heard much of Brazil’s Ivanildo Delfino, but with an undefeated record, Tatsumitsu Wada will have to be cautious of what he brings to the cage.
“I know Ivanildo is a Jungle Fight Champion, but that’s as far as I know. It’ll be interesting to see what style he brings to the cage,” he stated.
“Tatsumitsu is a very experienced athlete; he’s competed in the best promotions and has a great level of grappling as seen in his dominant victory over Eugene Toquero.”
On the other hand, Danny “The King” Kingad of the Philippines is set to take on fellow former ONE World Title challenger Andrew Leone in a quarter-final bout of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix.
“This will be interesting, but of course, I’ll be supporting Andrew,” Subba quipped.
“He’s coming off two defeats, but it came against the best in this division. Andrew is a very talented athlete and a top grappler.”
He, however, praised Kingad’s ability to muscle out a victory in tough situations.
“He’s on a streak and has developed his own style. I feel he’ll stop a few takedown attempts, but Andrew will prove to be too much for him," he explained.
The final bout in the eight-man tourney is the three-clash between Johnson and Japan's Yuya Wakamatsu.
Subba stressed that he only sees one clear winner in this contest.
“Demetrious Johnson is the best in the world, and I’m pretty sure he will seal the win and move on to the semi-final,” he predicted.
“I can't see how Wakamatsu can defeat him, but it’ll be interesting to see how he sets himself up for a match like this.”
Wakamatsu will be hoping to bounce off a defeat in September 2018 against Kingad, while “Mighty Mouse” will have his eyes on a dream start in The Home of Martial Arts.
Astro Awani
Wed Mar 13 2019
Malaysian sensation Gianni Subba shared his thoughts on the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix. - Instagram pic/@giannisubba via YK Tang Photography
AWANI Ringkas: Taktik baharu scammer
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI 7:45 [20/04/2024] - Noktahkan kemiskinan Sabah | Belum tahu jumlah peruntukan pembangkang | Freedom Flotilla to Gaza | Thailand terima 10.72 juta pelancong asing
#AWANI745 malam ini bersama Dzulfitri Yusof;
1. Noktahkan kemiskinan tegar Sabah, kata PM
2. PN masih tunggu butiran MOU, peruntukan pembangkang
3. Freedom Flotilla jalani latihan anti keganasan sebelum ke Gaza
4. 1.3 juta pelancong Malaysia ke Thailand
1. Noktahkan kemiskinan tegar Sabah, kata PM
2. PN masih tunggu butiran MOU, peruntukan pembangkang
3. Freedom Flotilla jalani latihan anti keganasan sebelum ke Gaza
4. 1.3 juta pelancong Malaysia ke Thailand
Dua polis BSI ditahan bantu siasatan kes pemerasan
Dua anggota polis yang berkhidmat di Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) ditahan semalam, bagi membantu siasatan kes pemerasan melibatkan seorang lelaki tempatan yang bekerja di Singapura.
Malaysia-Thailand tingkat kerjasama atasi jenayah
Malaysia dan Thailand setuju tingkat kerjasama untuk membanteras jenayah rentas sempadan.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
MCMC lapor polis terhadap Papagomo, Che Gu Bard dan Salim Iskandar
MCMC menegaskan pihaknya melaksanakan tugas dan tanggungjawabnya berpandukan Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998, dan kesemua undang-undang subsidiari yang terkandung di dalamnya.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
Kursus Perdana Haji peringkat Wilayah Persekutuan
Hari ini bermula Kursus Haji Perdana secara berperingkat yang dianjurkan oleh Lembaga Tabung Haji.
Ini adalah persediaan terakhir kepada bakal Haji Malaysia untuk mempersiapkan diri sebagai tetamu Allah di tanah suci nanti.
#AWANI745
Ini adalah persediaan terakhir kepada bakal Haji Malaysia untuk mempersiapkan diri sebagai tetamu Allah di tanah suci nanti.
#AWANI745
1.39 juta pelancong Malaysia ke Thailand
Thailand terima ketibaan 10.72 juta pelancong asing termasuk 1.39 juta dari Malaysia.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
Delegasi Malaysia jalani latihan anti keganasan
Latihan ini bagi mempersiapkan peserta dalam mendepani segala kenungkinan dan provokasi yang mungkin berlaku semasa pelayaran menghantar bantuan ke Gaza berlangsung.
Syaff Shukri di Istanbul, Turki ada perinciannya.
#AWANI745
Syaff Shukri di Istanbul, Turki ada perinciannya.
#AWANI745
Bekas tokoh Bersih lancar Projek SAMA, tingkat akauntabiliti
Tujuh bekas BERSIH pada Sabtu melancarkan sebuah organisasi yang memperjuangkan reformasi institusi dikenali sebagai Projek SAMA.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
[TERKINI] Dua polis bsi ditahan bantu siasatan kes pemerasan
Dua anggota polis yang berkhidmat di Bangunan Sultan Iskandar di Johor Bahru ditahan bagi membantu siasatan kes pemerasan membabitkan seorang lelaki tempatan yang bekerja di Singapura.
MMA: Agilan bakal beraksi dalam acara ONE di Tokyo Oktober ini
Atlet seni bela diri campuran (MMA) negara, Agilan Thani sah akan beraksi di acara ONE: Century di Tokyo, Jepun pada Oktober nanti.
'Mighty Mouse' bertemu Danny Kingad di final ONE Flyweight GP
Demetrious Johnson berjaya menempah tiket ke aksi final kejohanan dunia Flyweight Grand Prix dengan menewaskan petarung Jepun, Tatsumitsu Wada.
Dikritik barat, CEO ONE Championship tetap yakin pada bakat Sage Northcutt
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif ONE Championship, Chatri Sityodtong optimis dengan masa depan Sage Northcutt di ONE Championship.
UFC: 'King of Cringe' Henry Cejudo diarah berehat hingga 2020
Juara dua divisyen UFC flyweight dan bantamweight, Henry Cejudo selamat menjalani pembedahan di bahagian bahu kirinya.
MMA atau Street Fighter, Demetrious Johnson tetap handal
Petarung ONE Championship Demetrious Johnson bukan sahaja tangkas di sangkar seni bela diri campuran (MMA), malah ketangkasannya tidak kurang hebat di arena e-sukan.
Gianni Subba breaks down ONE Grand Prix's opening round
The much-awaited ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix is set to kick off at ONE: A NEW ERA in Tokyo, Japan on 31 March.
MMA: Gianni mahu bertarung dengan Demetrious Johnson
Jaguh seni mempertahankan diri campuran (MMA) negara, Gianni Subba menyatakan hasrat ingin memulakan 2019 dengan bertemu bekas juara dunia UFC flyweight, Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson.
MMA: 'Mighty Mouse' tidak sabar hendak beraksi di ONE Championship
Demetrious Johnson atau nama gelarannya 'Mighty Mouse' nampaknya sudah tidak sabar untuk berkongsi pentas bersama rakan atlet flyweight ONE Championship.
MMA: DJ, Alvarez bakal beraksi dalam kejohanan ONE di Tokyo
ONE Championship pada Khamis telah mengumumkan jadual pertarungan awal bagi acara pertamanya di Tokyo, ONE: A New Era, yang bakal berlangsung di Arena Ryogoku Kokugikan, pada 31 Mac 2019.
ONE Championship lancar siri kejohanan e-sukan terbesar Asia
Penganjur terbesar kejohanan seni bela diri campuran (MMA) di Asia, ONE Championship kini tampil pula dengan siri kejohanan sukan elektronik (e-sukan).