“It’s definitely a big bonus” - Jozef Chen on ONE Championship debut inside legendary Lumpinee Stadium
Jozef Chen is excited to make his ONE Championship debut inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium.
On Friday, July 5, the promotion will head back to the iconic venue in Bangkok, Thailand, for a loaded ONE Fight Night 23 card.
In the main event of the evening, fans will see former ONE world champion Ok Rae Yoon look to take home the interim ONE lightweight MMA title as he squares off with undefeated newcomer Alibeg Rasulov.
But first, those in attendance and watching around the world on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S. and Canada will see the highly anticipated debut of 19-year-old BJJ phenom Jozef Chen as he meets reigning ONE world titleholder Tye Ruotolo in a can't-miss catchweight clash.
Speaking with Sportskeeda MMA, Chen shared his excitement over not only making his ONE Championship debut but doing it in one of the most beloved combat sports venues on the planet.
"I mean it's definitely a big bonus," Chen said of competing at Lumpinee. "I mean having never done something like this, I mean I've done striking before, so I was familiar with Lumpinee.
"But having never had competitive aspirations in striking, I never thought that I would be competing at Lumpinee. But I think happy accidents, you know?"
Tye Ruotolo goes for his seventh straight win against Jozef Chen at ONE Fight Night 23
Chen will definitely have his work cut out for him when he meets Tye Ruotolo, the promotion's reigning ONE welterweight submission grappling world champion.
Making his own debut in May 2022 alongside his brother and fellow ONE world titleholder Kade Ruotolo, Tye made a massive statement by scoring an 82-second submission victory over BJJ legend Garry Tonon at ONE 157.
Since then, he has earned five more victories inside the Circle, besting the likes of Marat Gafurov, Reinier de Ridder, and Dagi Arslanaliev.
Will Tye Ruotolo make it seven straight wins when he welcomes the South African to martial arts' biggest global stage, or will Jozef Chen claim the biggest win of his young BJJ career?
ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 23 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, July 5.