The Inner Circle keeps raising the bar, and May 15 brings one of its strongest lineups yet.
Streaming live in Asia primetime exclusively on live.onefc.com ahead of ONE Friday Fights 154, this edition brings together some of the promotion’s biggest names inside the fabled Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
A ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title is on the line, a grappling sensation makes his return to MMA, and two cerebral finishers from the bantamweight Muay Thai division step into the ring with redemption on their minds. Here are three reasons why The Inner Circle demands your full attention.
#1 The ONE Heavyweight World Title Rematch We’ve Been Waiting To See
Some rematches lose their luster with time, but this one arrives with more heat than ever.
Reigning ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane makes his first title defense against the man he dethroned, Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin. A shocking upset, a delayed rematch due to injury, and months of bitter exchanges online have only deepened a rivalry that needed no extra fuel.
At ONE 169 in November 2024, Kane walked into the ring against a Russian who had never lost and who had also finished every professional opponent he ever faced.
Five grueling rounds later, his Lutte wrestling, suffocating clinch work, and heavy hands had done the unthinkable. “Reug Reug” put Senegal on the combat sports map and ended an undefeated run that once seemed permanent.
Now Malykhin returns driven by redemption. The promotion’s only three-division MMA World Champion wants to reclaim what he lost and prove that one defeat does not define a legacy.
With two larger-than-life figures and one rivalry demanding resolution, everything points to a heavyweight war unlike anything seen before.
#2 Kade Ruotolo’s Long-Awaited Return
From the moment Kade Ruotolo arrived in the world’s largest martial arts organization, he moved like a force of nature. The ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion conquered the grappling ranks with ruthless efficiency, defending his throne three times before transitioning to MMA.
The California native dispatched three consecutive opponents by first-round submission, building a perfect 3-0 record without missing a beat. Then injuries intervened, halting his momentum just as his MMA career was finding its stride.
Rather than step away entirely, the 23-year-old channeled his energy into supporting twin brother and ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo through his own MMA transition.
Now he returns healthy and hungry, chasing a fourth consecutive finish and a step closer to two-division ONE MMA World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee‘s lightweight throne.
Standing in his way is Hiroyuki “Japanese Beast” Tetsuka, a battle-hardened veteran with 15 career wins and 13 finishes. A brutal second-round TKO of former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Shinya Aoki at ONE 173 underlined his danger.
Getting past the Japanese veteran would be Ruotolo’s most convincing case yet that he belongs among MMA’s elite.
#3 Bantamweight Muay Thai Stars Chase Bounce-Back Wins
ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek and Russian finisher Abdulla “Smash Boy” Dayakaev arrive on the same mission, with vindication the only acceptable outcome.
Once considered among the most complete pound-for-pound strikers in the world, Superlek carries 139 career wins and a 15-3 promotional record decorated with victories over some of the promotion’s most prominent names.
However, consecutive losses to Nabil Anane and Yuki Yoza have cast a long shadow over his bantamweight tenure, leaving fans asking whether the best of the Thai icon still remains.
Dayakaev was firmly on the path to stardom. Four straight finishes earned the Dagestani a six-figure contract and a ONE World Title eliminator match at ONE Fight Night 39, only for Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon to halt his march and go on to capture the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.
Both men step in knowing a loss deepens the hole. Superlek’s calculated precision against Dayakaev’s aggressive finishing instincts makes for a compelling contrast, and only one walks away with their momentum restored.