Alright, folks. That’s it for us from Beijing, China. We will see you in Singapore on Friday for ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS!
Congratulations to our ONE Fantasy Champion! Can you hold on to the title next week though!?!?
It was a very close battle and both men had their moments. However, it seemed like Ennahachi made his strikes count a little bit more. That could very well have been the difference-maker.
Ilias Ennahachi defeats Wang Wenfong via split decision to retain the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship.
ROUND FIVE
Wang kept moving forward with his pressure punches, his looping shots, and his kicks, but when Ennahachi countered, he did so aggressively.
The Dutchman would move forward at times, but got stopped in his tracks with crisp combinations, like the jab-hook.
Although Ennahachi showed more aggression and applied pressure in the waning moments of the contest, especially with his cross and hooks, Wang took control at the very end.
ROUND FOUR
A one-two backed up Ennahachi and caused him to slip, prompting Wang to furiously attack with punches in bunches. The reigning World Champion quickly recovered, however.
When Ennahachi moved forward with a combo, Wang masterfully blocked it and clocked him up high with punches.
The Chinese challenger continued to walk his rival down, but Ennahachi threw more punches when prompted by the referee for more action. Wang backed him up, but the Dutchman did get some foot jabs in.
There were times when Wang threw punches that sent him off-kilter, and while he rushed forward with shots, Ennahachi did counter with some good body kicks and counter body punches.
ROUND THREE
Following an exchange of low kicks, Ennahachi darted forward with punches. At one point, he even ran forward with rights and lefts that connected, as well as an uppercut, before getting tied up.
But soon, Wang put him on the back foot. A flying knee, followed by rights and lefts, landed on the World Champion.
The two actively stayed in each other’s faces. While Wang controlled the center of the ring again, Ennahachi would move forward to engage with his strikes — often a kick leading to punches.
In the final 30 seconds, Wang backed him to the corner and connected with a gorgeous uppercut and stayed on him, but nothing as effective landed for him. Ennahachi ended the frame with a fierce right.
There was more action to begin the round.
Wang was on the attack and backed his rival to the ropes. However, Ennahachi would not back down. He often came forward with punches up high and finished with a kick. A brief clinch saw Ennahachi throw a knee, but his Chinese rival landed three.
Overall, Wang was able to pressure his opponent with punches and forced him towards the ropes, but the defending World Champion landed some solid kicks.
Following an exchange of kicks, the two kept moving and tried to get the other to react. Wang circled in with a combo, but ate a clean left from the reigning and defending World Champion. The Chinese warrior eventually caught a body kick and responded with a boxing combination.
Ennahachi squeezed his way in tightly with fierce rights and lefts soon thereafter, but Wang separated, continued to take control of the center of the ring, and threatened his rival on the back foot.
Each man has a different idea on how this bout will end. Ennahachi told us at ONEFC.com he will not hold back. Wang intends to get a KO and silence his rival for good.
#RandomFact
These two athletes are meeting for the first time in ONE Championship, but this is actually the third meeting between them. Ennahachi won the first contest in 2014 via decision, and Wang won the rematch in 2017 via decision. This trilogy bout will decide who is the rightful ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion.
Now, it’s time for the main event. ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Ilias Ennahachi takes on “Metal Storm” Wang Wenfeng.
Yusupov has a golden opportunity here. He is a late replacement to Sasha Moisa, but could make a statement by shocking the Thai legend.
After falling to Samy Sana in the opening round of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, Yosdanklai is hyped for a win. This week, he told ONEFC.com he is looking for the knockout.
Some random knowledge:
Meng Bo was supposed to face Mei Yamaguchi in May. When Meng was forced to withdraw, guess who replaced her? Balin.
Now, they meet. Kind of cool, eh?
We stay in the women’s atomweight division for our next contest between China’s own Menu Bo and Argentina’s Laura Balin.