ONE Friday Fights 68 predictions: Prajanchai PK Saenchai vs. Jonathan Di Bella
Will it be redemption or double coronation at ONE Friday Fights 68?
Jonathan Di Bella is back and wants nothing more than to reclaim the vacant ONE strawweight kickboxing world title, but standing in his way to the throne is reigning ONE strawweight Muay Thai world champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai.
Prajanchai is on a quest to join ONE Championship's club of double world champions, while Di Bella is hell-bent on reclaiming the gold he lost during official weigh-ins.
Di Bella was supposed to defend his world title against Prajanchai earlier this year at ONE Friday Fights 58 but relinquished the strap on the scales after he failed hydration tests amid health problems.
The Italian-Canadian star was ultimately hospitalized due to illness following the weigh-ins, but he's now back in peak shape and ready to face Prajanchai on June 28 at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
Before ONE Friday Fights 68 transpires this Friday, Sportskeeda MMA's ONE Championship team gave their unbiased predictions for what should be a proper show stealer.
ONE Friday Fights 68 is available on pay-per-view at watch.onefc.com.
James De Rozario: Jonathan Di Bella via decision
Jonathan Di Bella is undefeated for a reason, and I expect it to stay that way once ONE Friday Fights 68 is done and dusted.
The Italian-Canadian striking maestro does everything so effortlessly that, at times, it looks as if he's barely even trying.
It'll be another mix of patience and aggression from the undefeated star here as well as he will attempt to avoid any dog fight against the Thai early.
Prajanchai has a tendency to force things when nothing goes his way, and that'll be just what Di Bella needs to land his counters and snappy head kicks that come out of nowhere.
None of what he throws might have Prajanchai worried, but the more he connects, the more he'd have the strawweight Muay Thai king misfiring.
As such, my money's on a Jonathan Di Bella unanimous decision win come June 28.
Mike Murillo: Jonathan Di Bella via decision
It is great to see this fight finally push through after being scrapped earlier this year. I believe that this showdown is going to be explosive and fans will enjoy it.
I like the chances of Di Bella in this contest as he has the size advantage over Prajanchai in addition to the speed and footwork that he possesses, making him a handful even against a fighter with the skillset of the Thai sensation.
Durability, too, is a strong suit of his, which he has proven in his two previous fights that both went the full distance. It will help his cause greatly as strawweight Muay Thai king Prajanchai is expected to descend heavily on him right from the get-go in his bid to become a double world champion.
For added motivation, Di Bella is fighting for the world title stripped from him last time around for missing hydration levels.
It is going to be competitive with Di Bella winning by decision.
Ted Razon: Jonathan Di Bella via decision
Prajanchai has been on a rampage as of late and it's hard to see anyone beating him at 125 pounds. Then again, the same can be said of Di Bella, whose mesmerizing style has yet to be broken down by all of his challengers.
Given his hometown advantage, I foresee a pumped Prajanchai trying to close the distance and land shots from inside early, much like he did against Joseph Lasiri in their last bout.
The Thai star should also chop down on the Italian-Canadian's leg, something he had trouble with against Danial Williams.
Di Bella will counterstrike if given the chance, but he'll likely be more passive early on to get a gauge of Prajanchai's rhythm.
The former world champ should avoid Prajanchai's power shots and truly shine in the final three rounds. We've seen Prajanchai drown in deep waters before, and Di Bella can get him there with pinpoint combos, pristine movement, and well-timed counters. I see him using volume and accuracy to overwhelm Prajanchai on the scorecards.
Vince Richards: Jonathan Di Bella via knockout
It will be interesting to see if Jonathan Di Bella's cunning style will land him his first knockout win in ONE Championship.
Di Bella undoubtedly has the power to stand with anyone in the promotion, and his matchup against Prajanchai in the main event of ONE 168 could be the perfect platform to unleash that pent-up power.
It will be difficult, though, since Di Bella uses a patient approach in his fights, while Prajanchai marches his opponents down constantly.
Prajanchai's all-out offensive approach is a thing of beauty but that leaves him tiring out in the latter rounds, a scenario that Di Bella will likely pounce on.
I see Di Bella patiently fighting off the backfoot in the first three rounds, before going forward in the fourth and fifth periods.
A gassed-out Prajanchai would be a prime target for Di Bella, and I expect the Italian-Canadian menace to land that perfect one-hitter quitter in the championship rounds.