Andrade gets his wish at ONE Fight Night 38
The 28-year-old called for this particular bout back in May, identifying Baatarkhuu as the most deserving challenger based on his impressive three-fight winning streak. Andrade’s wish came true when ONE Championship matchmakers booked the title fight, creating a compelling stylistic clash between one of the sport’s most dangerous strikers and a suffocating wrestler determined to dethrone the division king.
Baatarkhuu earned his title shot by methodically climbing the bantamweight rankings since capturing the Road to ONE: Mongolia tournament in 2022. The 36-year-old Mongolian brings a 13-3 career record into this championship bout, highlighted by dominant wins over previously undefeated Carlo Bumina-ang, South American knockout artist Aaron “Tommy Gun” Canarte and No. 5 ranked Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw at ONE Fight Night 29 last March.
“In Enkh I get a new challenge, a different style, a guy who is going to challenge me in different areas that maybe none of the fighters have tried before. So I’m excited to show how good I am in different areas as well,” Andrade said.
Brazilian champion Andrade wants to show off wrestling
Andrade enters his second title defense of 2025 riding momentum after his spectacular 42-second demolition of “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il on ONE 170 last January. The Brazilian has amassed an impressive overall MMA record of 10-2 with an 80 percent finish rate while maintaining an impeccable promotional record.
The champion’s notable credentials extend far beyond mixed martial arts. He has over 40 combined wins in Muay Thai and kickboxing matches, showcasing his elite-level stand-up repertoire across multiple disciplines. However, Andrade possesses dangerous wrestling skills that are often overlooked, including his victory over Mark Abelardo in his ONE Championship debut in July 2020, proving he can finish fights on the canvas when necessary.
“I’m a versatile fighter. I can do it all. And I’ve shown that with my striking in my previous fights with my knockouts. This time I’m going to show how good my wrestling is because I’ve got a guy who’s going to try to wrestle me,” Andrade explained.
Champion promises another spectacular finish
Throughout his career, Andrade has created finishing opponents a trademark of his fighting style, securing eight stoppages out of his ten wins. “Wonder Boy” has no plans to let this title defense reach the judges’ scorecards, expressing the utmost confidence in his ability to find the knockout or submission no matter where the action takes place.
Andrade’s killer instincts have proven deadly against world-class competition, from his brutal victories over former champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker to his lightning-quick knockout of Kwon in their January rematch. The champion simply sees Baatarkhuu as the next victim on his path to establishing himself as one of the greatest bantamweight champions in ONE Championship history.
“I’m going to finish the fight. I don’t want to pick a round or anything like that because I want to enjoy the fight. I want to see how the fight goes. But I’m definitely going to finish the fight. The belt stays with me,” Andrade said.
ONE Fight Night 38 will air live on Prime Video on Friday, December 5. The action starts at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the US and Canada.
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