Singapore: One Championship's latest spectacle, One 158: Tawanchai v Larsen, featured exciting action from top to bottom last week.
There were jaw-dropping knockouts mixed with displays of pure heart throughout the card, but three athletes in particular were singled out by One chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong for their performances inside the circle -- and they each left the Singapore Indoor Stadium with an extra US$50,000 in their pockets.
In the main event, Tawanchai PK Saenchai earned a $50,000 performance bonus for his knockout of Niclas Larsen.
Tawanchai picked apart "Dreamchaser" in the first round while remaining cautious of Larsen's erratic footwork and movements.
Then, just beyond the halfway mark of round two, the striking phenom landed a left hook that dropped Larsen, who was unable to recover.
Tawanchai scored the win, the bonus, and the next shot at One featherweight Muay Thai world champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee.
In the penultimate bout on the card, Fabricio Andrade earned a cool US$50,000 by taking out Kwon Won-Il to continue his dominant run inside the circle and bolster his chances of getting a world title shot.
"Wonder Boy" needed just 62 seconds to finish the heated bantamweight brawl, and he did so with a poise that proves he is one to beat in the stacked division.
The newly ranked No.2 contender worked "Pretty Boy" around the circle before delivering a devastating kick that connected flush with his liver.
With Kwon reeling behind him, Andrade took the win and the bonus, then proceeded to call out divisional king John "Hands of Stone" Lineker.
Meanwhile, a determined Alex Silva won his rematch against Adrian Mattheis after an early stoppage, redeeming himself from his previous loss against "Papua Badboy" and scoring an extra US$50,000.
"Little Rock" took the action to his Indonesian rival as soon as the opening bell sounded.
He put his grappling prowess to work and hunted for takedown after takedown while preventing Mattheis from gaining any momentum.
Then, just under four minutes into the bout, Silva secured an inside heel hook that forced the tap and earned him the win. afp