ONE Fight Night 26: Jonathan Di Bella and Rui Botelho butt heads in potential strawweight kickboxing world title eliminator
Things are heating up for the ONE Fight Night 26 card on Dec. 6 following the addition of a strawweight kickboxing duel between former champion Jonathan Di Bella and the upset-minded Rui Botelho.
These two warriors will leave it all on the line in a possible world title eliminator in the 125-pound kickboxing ranks, which will fittingly take place inside 'The Mecca of Muay Thai' Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, live at US Primetime.
Jonathan Di Bella will look to kickstart another campaign to retrieve his 26 pounds of gold.
This showdown will mark the Italian-Canadian's first non-title fight under the world's largest martial arts organization, after going 2-1 in high-stakes five-round battles.
The 28-year-old striking wizard proved why he is one of the most technically sound fighters in the world following surgical performances against Zhang Peimian and Danial Williams.
However, Di Bella stumbled in his last outing against now two-sport world champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai. Despite a valiant showing, the Team Di Bella Kickboxing star dropped a razor-close decision verdict to the Thai at ONE Friday Fights 68 last June.
After absorbing his first career defeat, Di Bella is out for redemption against the surging Botelho. The young Portuguese slugger snapped an ugly four-fight skid with an upset victory over Zhang Peimian last year.
Botelho followed it up with another impressive win over Thongpoon PK Saenchai at ONE Fight Night 25 last October.
If the Dinamite Team affiliate can extend his winning streak to three, including a win against a former world champion like Di Bella, then a title shot against Prajanchai could be in store for him.
Confirmed title bouts for ONE Fight Night 26
While the full list of fights for ONE Fight Night 26 is still in development, it's already looking like another banger event for the home of martial arts.
Two world title fights have already been confirmed for the promotion's final Amazon Prime Video event of 2024, bannered by the return of two-division MMA kingpin Christian Lee. 'The Warrior' will defend his lightweight MMA crown against Alibeg Rasulov.
Elsewhere, Mayssa Bastos will defend her atomweight submission grappling crown in a highly-requested rematch with the same adversary she dethroned, Danielle Kelly.
ONE Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov on Prime Video is free for those with a Prime Video subscription in the United States and Canada.