ONE Championship has officially announced the main and co-main events for A Fighting Night 38 on Friday, December 5 from Bangkok, Thailand, with two world title fights concluding the promotion’s 2025 U.S. primetime schedule. Reigning ONE bantamweight MMA world champion Fabricio Andrade will defend his crown against No. 4 ranked Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu in the headliner, while Brazilian submission ace Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis will take on Japan’s Daiki Yonekura for the vacant ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling world title.
Andrade defends second title against Mongolian competitor
Andrade enters his second title defense with a 10-2 (1 NC) career record with a 7-0 (1 NC) MMA record in ONE Championship. He also has a reputation as one of the division’s most lethal finishers. The Brazilian captured gold by crushing compatriot John Lineker via TKO in February 2023, and knocked out South Korea’s Kwon Won Il in 42 seconds at ONE 170 earlier this year.
The 27-year-old possesses well-rounded skills, building on his striking repertoire. He compiled a 40-4 record in Muay Thai and kickboxing competition before transitioning to the all-encompassing sport. His MMA career includes a dominant ONE Championship run that started with a 2020 submission victory over veteran Mark Abelardo, followed by four straight wins to earn his first title shot.
Andrade hungry to prove himself among leading bantamweights
Despite challenging then-ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty for the vacant kickboxing crown in November 2023 and coming up short, Andrade remained focused on cementing his legacy as the premier bantamweight MMA king while establishing himself as one of the prominent finishers in the entire ONE Championship.
Now he finally gets the man he called for.
Baatarkhuu earns title shot with impressive run
The 36-year-old Mongolian contender has positioned himself perfectly for his championship shot against Andrade with three straight wins, showcasing his finishing ability and seasoned knowledge. Baatarkhuu trains under the guidance of former ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Narantungalag Jadambaa and has a career mark of 13-3 with a 62 percent finishing percentage.
Baatarkhuu’s path to contention includes notable victories over Carlo Bumina-ang, Aaron Canarte and Jeremy Pacatiw, demonstrating his ability to beat tough opposition. After winning his first three promotional fights, the Mongolian veteran suffered his only ONE Championship loss to Artem Belakh before bouncing back stronger than ever with his current winning streak.
Jadambaa’s protégé possesses diverse finishing skills with two submissions and two TKO wins among his ONE Championship victories, making him a dangerous challenger capable of taking the gold away from the Brazilian kingpin.
Diogo Reis takes on the Japanese wrestling star for empty gold
In addition to the MMA title fight between Andrade and Baatarkhuu, the co-main event promises elite submission wrestling action, with 23-year-old Brazilian sensation Reis taking on Japanese black belt Yonekura for the vacant ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship. The Sao Paulo native “Baby Shark” has quickly established himself as one of the sport’s brightest young talents with two ADCC World Championships and a successful ONE Championship debut.
Reis made an immediate impact in his first promotional appearance earlier this year, submitting Japan’s Shoya Ishiguro via kimura. The BJJ black belt’s youthful and aggressive hunting style have made him one of the sport’s most exciting competitors.
Yonekura represents Japan’s wrestling elite as the 2024 IBJJF Pan Pacific Champion and a black belt with proven credentials against world-class competition. The Japanese challenger brings technical prowess to this vacant title fight, making him a formidable opponent for the popular Shark.
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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