Exclusive: Two new bouts added to ONE 171 Qatar including Emirati champion Zayed Alkatheeri

Sport360 · 2 years ago · 330 views

As ONE Championship gets ready to return to Qatar next month, a mouth-watering fight card already stacked with top names, has now had two new bouts added Sport360 can exclusively reveal. IBJJF World Champion Zayed Alkatheeri will take on Jarrah Al Hazza in a flyweight submission grappling match while Abdullo Khodzhaev and Wilian Poles will square off in a lightweight MMA bout. Alkatheeri will be a familiar name to UAE fight fans.  In 2022, he became the first Emirati to win gold as BJJ black belt (-56KG) at Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Pro (ADWPJJC). He had previously won all titles at the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) Tour circuit including the World Pro and Grand Slam at brown belt. He also won the 2023 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championships. He now faces Kuwaiti Al Hazza in his ONE debut. They will be joined by one of the Middle East’s top young prospects – and another talent honed in the UAE. Tajikistan’s Abdullo Khodzhaev has thrilled crowds in UAE Warriors across his four fights with the organisation. An acrobatic striker, Khodzhaev has built a strong local fanbase and will be looking to build on his 5-1 professional record.  Poles too has had experience in front of a UAE crowd, having fought twice in UAE Warriors. The Brazilian is a dynamic striker and born entertainer who will stand toe to toe with anyone.  It was most recently announced that Turkey’s undefeated MMA star Shamil Erdogan will take on Aung La N Sang for an anticipated middleweight rematch after Erdogan took his record to 10-0 with a win against the Myanmar legend at ONE 168: Denver. A win for Erdogan will establish him as the next contender for the ONE Middleweight MMA world championship and an epic battle with titleholder, Russia’s Anatoly Malykhin.  Elsewhere, ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty, who will defend his coveted gold for the first time. Standing across from him will be the #1-ranked contender, Wei Rui, a Chinese kickboxing megastar who is riding an astonishing 21-fight winning streak. Also, reigning divisional king Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and interim titleholder Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks will meet in a trilogy bout to unify the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship. ONE 171: Qatar will take place at the Lusail Sports Arena on Thursday, February 20, 2025