ONE Championship fighter Eko Roni Saputra was introduced to Indonesian fans in Jakarta in 2019. (Courtesy of ONE Championship)
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s 2021 draws to a close, ONE Championship fans all around the world are gearing up to see some exciting potential matchups for next year.
In fact, as the world's largest martial arts organization prepares to welcome its biggest year yet, the athletes on the roster may have already mapped out the tough competitions in their respective divisions, including Indonesian fighters.
Whether to earn redemption, extend an undefeated streak or pursue a world title opportunity, they must be looking to book some big victories to hoist their names on the global stage.
While Medan-born Elipitua “The Magician” Siregar is slated to kick-off ONE: HEAVY HITTERS on Jan. 14, 2022, against Filipino Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan, these are some possible bouts that can happen next year for some of Indonesia’s other biggest mixed martial artists.
1. ‘Dynamite’ Eko Roni Saputra vs. ‘The Hunter’ Xie Wei
Eko is on a roll. He closed 2021 with a record-setting 10 second knockout victory over Liu Peng Shuai to extend his unbeaten run to five in a row.
As he aims to become the first Indonesian to earn a world title shot, his upcoming adversary might come from the upper echelon of the flyweight division.
He might also need to beat another rising star to write his name on the ONE Championship’s official rankings.
One particular fighter that can help measure Eko’s readiness is Xie Wei, who has won his last three fights via finishes. The Chinese all-rounder possesses a terrifying knockout power as he defeated Dae Hwan Kim, Kantharaj Agasa and Chan Rothana via KO/TKO.
A match between these two finishers wouldn’t likely go the distance and could end in just a few minutes after the first bell rings.
2. Stefer ‘The Lion’ Rahardian vs. Dejdamrong
As one of Indonesia’s most respected fighters, Stefer has experienced ups and downs in ONE Championship.
The Jakarta-born martial arts hero bagged nine consecutive victories in his early career but lost four times straight after that. The strawweight athlete managed to get back to the winning column in October 2019 through a dominant victory over fellow Indonesian Adrian “Papua Badboy” Mattheis.
However, since then, the product of Bali MMA has not been seen inside the Circle again due to a leg injury, as well as the global pandemic. As he looks to keep the momentum going and prove that he still belongs in the elite group, a meeting with Thai veteran Dejdamrong could be the fight for fans to watch.
The 43-year-old Dejdamrong is a former ONE strawweight world champion with a wealth of experience. He has 282 Muay Thai wins under his belt and 11 victories in mixed martial arts (MMA). Last August, the Evolve MMA representative pulled off an upset when he defeated Banma Duoji, a highly regarded Chinese newcomer who is 19 years younger than him.
Stefer needs a huge win to put his name back on the world title conversation, and a victory over Dejdamrong could bring him a step closer to his dream.
3. Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol vs. Alyse ‘Lil’ Savage’ Anderson
After giving birth to her daughter in August, Priscilla has said that she is ready to make a comeback early next year.
At the same time, the women’s atomweight division has been steadily growing, which means the Indonesian martial arts heroine has a plenty of options when she returns to the Circle.
The 33-year-old Priscilla has made a name for herself on the global stage by defeating rivals from other Asian countries, including Myanmar’s Bozhena Antoniyar, Cambodia’s Nou Srey Pov, Malaysia’s Audreylaura Boniface and the Philippines’ Rome Trinidad. And perhaps, it’s time for her to face another highly skilled competitor from a different part of the globe.
A matchup against United States star Alyse Anderson could guarantee a firework, as the two aggressive fighters will be looking for redemption following heartbreaking losses in their last fights.
Priscilla lost to Meng Bo via knockout in late 2020, while Anderson had to bow out from the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix tournament after losing to Japan’s Itsuki “Android 18” Hirata earlier this year.
4. Adrian ‘Papua Badboy’ Mattheis vs. Lito ‘Thunder Kid’ Adiwang
Electrifying strikes, aggressive movements and penchants for finishes are probably three things that Adrian and Lito have in common.
The Indonesian fighter has nine victories in ONE with eight of them coming from knockouts or submissions. That stellar record has put his name as the most prolific finisher in the ONE strawweight division.
Similarly, the Filipino is the kind of fighter who wants to end the match soon after the bell rings. So far, he has collected seven wins in ONE with five finishes, proving his status as one of the most explosive fighters in the roster.
Both Adrian and Lito are the pride of their nations as the sporting rivalry between Indonesia and the Philippines gets heated. Whoever emerges as the winner can make a case for his pursuit of a world title.
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This article is a collaboration with ONE Championship