Battle For Vacant Strawweight Kickboxing Title To Headline ONE 162

Less than 24 hours before ONE Championship airs its third feature presentation on Amazon Prime Video, the organization is set to hold a fight card primarily catered to ardent Muay Thai and kickboxing fans.

The live event numbered "ONE 162" on October 21 is penciled to be headlined by a five-round encounter for the vacant strawweight kickboxing championship, pitting Chinese prospect Zhang Peimian against promotional newcomer Jonathan Di Bella.

Zhang has been nothing short of remarkable thus far since directing his career path to ONE Championship earlier this year, notching back-to-back victories over the likes of Josh Tonna and Aslanbek Zikreev.

However, a tough assignment awaits the Chinese teenage sensation as he faces a man who also knows what it is like to compete and thrive under the bright lights.

Di Bella is no stranger to bouts that entail high stakes as he is known for his stint under the Glory, where he had the opportunity to strut his wares inside the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Moreover, the Canadian-Italian kickboxer carries an immaculate 10-0 record, as well as a 2-0 standing in the sport of boxing.

Both men are strong all-around strikers with sharp tools in every area, meaning that there should be no lulls in the action when they go head-to-head on October 21.

Zhang boasts his distance ability to sustain an explosive offense from start to finish, while Di Bella possesses an effective brand of defensive guile to complement his slick counter-striking approach.

With so many potential ways their styles could clash, the clash for the gold-plated belt once held by Sam-A Gaiyanghadao has a chance to go in various directions.

Aside from the main event featuring Zhang and Di Bella, Nieky Holzken will also have the chance to regain the luster of his kickboxing run by taking on former world title contender Islam Murtazaev in the penultimate attraction.

The other ONE Super Series contests booked for the affair are the kickboxing tussle between Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Mohammed Boutasaa, Jimmy Vienot locking horns with Niclas Larsen under Muay Thai rules, and Chorfah Tor.Sangtiennoi battling Denis Puric in a Muay Thai duel.

Rounding out the lineup are four mixed martial arts fights, with No. 5-ranked flyweight Reece McLaren squaring off with Brazilian spitfire Windson Ramos serving as the marquee match-up of ONE Championship's flagship sport.

Former ONE strawweight titleholder Alex Silva is slated to duke it out versus No. 4-rated Gustavo Balart, while UFC veteran Leandro Issa faces Artem Belakh in a bantamweight tiff.

Lastly, Eko Roni Saputra is tasked to test the mettle of Yodkaikaew Fairtex in a flyweight joust.

ONE 162 is scheduled to take place at the 16,000-capacity Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.