Three changes have rocked the lineup for ONE Fight Night 49 on Prime Video. The action, however, remains as stacked as ever.
Injuries have ruled out former ONE Lightweight MMA World Title challenger Alibeg Rasulov, Johan “Panda Kick” Estupinan, and Katsuki Kitano from the blockbuster event, which goes down inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, November 6, live in U.S. primetime.
But the new faces bring fresh storylines, and the biggest sees an undefeated Dagestani newcomer handed the opportunity of a lifetime.
That man is Magomed “Muhammad” Magomedov, who steps in for Rasulov to face Lucas Gabriel in the lightweight MMA headliner.
The 15-0 warrior has ended each of his last five fights in highlight-reel fashion, and he will be eager to make it six straight in his global stage debut. Stepping into a main event is no small task, but the unbeaten star has never shied away from a challenge.
Getting past Gabriel, however, will be easier said than done. The Brazilian has gone six straight appearances without defeat since joining the promotion, tapping out Gadzhimurad Amirzhanov along the way before earning the biggest win of his career against former lightweight MMA titleholder Ok Rae Yoon at ONE Fight Night 44 in June.
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with heavy hands to match, the 26-year-old can end a fight from anywhere. Victory here could put him next in line for the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title, which two-division king Christian “The Warrior” Lee defends against Tye Ruotolo at The Inner Circle 37 just hours earlier.
Further down the card, two-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kongthoranee Sor Sommai gets the call to replace the injured Estupinan against Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito in flyweight kickboxing. Their first meeting came under Muay Thai rules, where the Thai picked up a unanimous decision win.
The 29-year-old brings a 73-20 record into this battle, and he wasted little time proving his skills translate under a new rule set. In his kickboxing debut at The Inner Circle 32 last month, the Sor Sommai representative earned a unanimous decision over Yuan Pengjie.
Now, he meets a seasoned striker who knows this terrain inside out. The Japanese slugger has won his last three outings, pushing his tally of victories in the world’s largest martial arts organization into double digits.
The 30-year-old’s resume already includes a Shoot Boxing crown, and his 39-14 record was built on a sniper’s patience and the precision to make every shot count.
One more Thai star rounds out the shakeups. Nontachai Jitmuangnon slides into Kitano’s place opposite a former ONE World Title challenger in a bantamweight Muay Thai rematch.
The 27-year-old owns 53 career victories, and has been a consistent presence on the global stage, losing just twice across eight appearances. He now looks to return to winning ways, and a statement performance against a proven contender would be the perfect way to do it.
He will not be the only one with a point to prove, though. Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo once rode an impressive run all the way to a shot at the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.
Unfortunately, the 33-year-old has endured a tough stretch since, which includes a unanimous decision loss to Nontachai in May this year. But the Brazilian striker still carries the kind of power that can turn any fight on its head. A win over Nontachai would be the ideal way to reignite his campaign and put the division back on notice.