ONE Championship returned to Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, to kick off a massive event week with a live press conference for ONE on Prime Video 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin, and ONE 164: Pacio vs. Brooks, held at The Theatre at Solaire on Wednesday night.
In attendance was Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, who was joined by top athletes from both cards.
This included reigning ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion Reinier de Ridder and his opponent, ONE Interim Heavyweight World Champion Anatoly Malykhin.
Also, ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio and his opponent, #1-ranked strawweight contender Jarred Brooks, among others.
ONE on Prime Video 5 Press Conference
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship
“This is going to be an explosive night for Filipino fans and our athletes are in for a treat.
They have no idea what’s coming. The Filipino fans are not only the loudest but they are some of the greatest fans on the planet.
Two undefeated World Champions with a massive finish rate. I want to say that both [with an] 80-90 percent finish rate.
This will be an epic fight to see who’s the best in the world. I already believe that Reinier de Ridder is the best middleweight in the world, by far.
He would smoke anybody in the other divisions. Anatoly, I believe, is the greatest heavyweight on the planet.
I’m telling you that RDR’s going to get knocked out or Anatoly’s going to get choked out. That’s my prediction.”
Reinier de Ridder, ONE Middleweight & Light Heavyweight World Champion
“I don’t want to relax, and want to be active.
I want to defend every belt, my belt, my middleweight belt, my light heavyweight belt, and for me, this is the fight for the heavyweight belt.
It’s two top guys, the best guys in ONE Championship going at each other.”
Anatoly Malykhin, ONE Interim Heavyweight World Champion
“I want to thank you, Chatri [Sityodtong], so much for this opportunity.
Honestly, I was eating chocolate all the time, it was easy peasy for me so I’m looking forward to knocking out my opponent as one, two, three.
This is the best shape of my life, I’m ready for it.”
ONE 164 Press Conference
Joshua Pacio, ONE Strawweight World Champion
“I’ve been undefeated here in my country, in the Philippines. And I plan to do that again this December 3rd.”
Jarred Brooks, #1-Ranked Strawweight Contender
“It’s been really, really tough. It’s been a really rough experience in this training camp.
I’m going to show it all against your boy this Saturday. I’m going to chop off the head of this Filipino and I’m going to take it back to the United States.
Ya’ll laughing now, I promise you won’t be laughing after the fight. I love all of you Filipino people.
I have nothing against any Filipino. Or against any Asian-American. All my beef comes with that man and I’m getting the belt.
I promise you that. You all can keep hating, it doesn’t matter. I’m getting the belt at the end of the day.
You all know that. I’m getting it.”
Image Credits ONE Championship
