Preview: One Championship 'Conquest of Heroes'

Flyweights

Kairat Akhmetov (24-2-0) vs. Ma Hao Bin (11-3-0)

Former One flyweight champion Akhmetov will look to get back to winning ways after losing to Geje Eustaquio in an interim title fight at the start of the year. It was the pair’s second time sharing the cage, with Akhmetov winning the first via split decision in September 2017. Eustaquio subsequently unified the titles at ONE: Pinnacle of Power in June defeating Adriano Moraes. Akhmetov will feel that a rematch and a shot at the title could be warranted if he can put together a couple of wins in a row. The powerful Kazakh came to MMA after an impressive amateur wrestling career, accumulating a winning record of 200-25-0. After becoming ONE’s flyweight champion in 2015 following his victory over Moraes at ONE: Dynasty of Champions 4, Akhmetov’s career was put on hold due to a back injury which put him out of the sport for almost two years. Since returning to the cage in 2017, the 30-year-old has fought four times, fighting Moraes and Eustaquio twice each. All four bouts have gone the distance, and there appears to be no residual effects from his injury. In China’s Hao Bin, he will take on a fighter whose strength lies in his grappling. However, in his last bout Hao Bin struggled at times on the ground against Danny Kingad (Philippines) a fighter known more for his striking than wrestling. Hao Bin does carry power in his punches and likes to send out heavy overhand rights. However he is not an overly nuanced striker and provided Akhmetov remains focused and avoids brawling he should prove too much of a step up in competition for Hao Bin.

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