ONE 166: Qatar has added a legend to the lineup. At ONE Friday Fights 50, Nong O Hama stepped inside the ring to announce his upcoming bantamweight Muay Thai matchup against Vladimir Kuzmin for Friday, March 1.
The Thai icon will seek to get back in the win column after his most recent two outings did not go his way.
Nong-O ruled over the bantamweight division with impressive technique and blistering knockouts. However, Jonathan Haggerty spoiled his reign with a massive knockout to shift the division into a new era. Nico Carrillo followed up with a big win over the former champion, putting Nong-O’s back against the wall.
Even with the recent string of bad luck, Nong-O still sits as the #2-ranked bantamweight contender.
As such, Kuzmin will enjoy a chance to get the biggest win of his career in Qatar at the star-studded event.
The Russian pushed Haggerty to his limit in their November 2022 meeting, and rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Fabio Reis. If he can defeat the #2-ranked contender at ONE 166, he will push his way into title contention.
With Haggerty defending the gold at ONE Fight Night 19 on Friday, February 26, this bantamweight clash will significantly influence who gets the next shot at the gold. The next month will be massive for the bantamweight Muay Thai division.
ONE 166: Qatar airs live on Friday, March 1, from the Lusail Sports Arena. The action begins at 7:30 a.m. EST/4:30 a.m. PST.