The United States witnessed a historic night of martial arts as ONE Championship made its debut in the country with ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs Moraes III at the 1stBank Center in Denver, Colorado. The 11-fight card showcased some of the best MMA, Muay Thai, and submission grappling matches, leaving the crowd in awe. The night was made even more spectacular with the announcement of the $50,000 performance bonus winners by Mitch Chilson. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong handed out cash incentives to five deserving warriors who put on a remarkable show.
Sage Northcutt, making his return after four years, proved that he still has what it takes to be a top fighter. Despite a slow start and getting taken down by Ahmed Mujtaba, Northcutt kept his cool and executed a textbook heel-hook to secure a victory in just under a minute. He also collected the first performance bonus of the evening.
The welterweight battle between Zebaztian Kadestam and Roberto Soldic was expected to end in a knockout, but Kadestam had other plans. After surviving an onslaught from Soldic in the first round, Kadestam landed a sickening elbow that sent his opponent to the mat. He dropped Soldic twice more before finishing him off with a right cross and left hook combo, earning himself a performance bonus and possibly a world title shot.
Stamp Fairtex faced early adversity in her atomweight MMA match against Alyse Anderson but bounced back in the second round with her brutal Muay Thai attacks. A perfectly placed kick to the liver was all it took to send Anderson to the ground in defeat. Fairtex not only earned a $50,000 cheque but also secured a date with Ham Seo Hee for the interim atomweight world title.
Mikey Musumeci showcased his grappling skills in the flyweight submission grappling match against Osamah Almarwai. Musumeci performed wizardly transitions and chained his submissions to perfection, leaving Almarwai guessing and on the defensive all evening. Musumeci secured the victory with a choke and knew the bonus money was coming as soon as Almarwai waved the white flag.
Rodtang Jitnuangnon put on a show in his flyweight Muay Thai match against Edgar Tabares, earning not one but two performance bonuses. After eating a spinning elbow from Tabares, Rodtang retaliated with a left hell-bow that sent his opponent to the ground. Tabares could not continue, and Rodtang received life-altering money as a result.
The night was a huge success for ONE Championship, and the fighters put on a remarkable show for the fans. The event showcased martial arts in its purest form and proved that ONE Championship is a force to be reckoned with in the world of combat sports.
