Why ONE: NextGen II Could Turn Into One Of 2021's Best Cards

ONE: NextGen II may lack the star power of other cards, but there are notable reasons as to why it can turn into one of the best events this year.

Featherweight Alternates Have Nothing To Lose

Prove-yourself bouts are always fun to watch in any combat sports as making the most out of these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities could catapult them into the main event scene.

This is what is at stake for Zhang Chunyu, Dovydas Rimkus, Smokin’ Jo Nattawut and Yurik Davtyan who will be fighting for a spot as alternates in case any of the competitors from the semifinals of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix pulls out.

China’s Zhang will be facing Rimkus of Lithuania to prove that they both belong in the Singapore-based promotion’s perpetually-stacked featherweight kickboxing division.

The fight between Nattawut and Davtyan has a bit more on the line as a win over Davtyan could see him in a title-eliminator with Giorgio Petrosyan down the line for a shot at inaugural ONE featherweight kickboxing king Superbon Banchamek.

Nattawut lost twice to Petrosyan already, but the latter is coming off a stunning KO loss via head kick from Superbon in their fight at ONE: First Strike and will need to prove he is back to being the world-beater that he is now known for.

Co-Main Event May Steal The Show

Featherweight MMA mainstays Tang Kai and Yoon Chang Min will duke it out in the co-main event in what could be another potential title eliminator.

Both fighters are proven finishers with a combined 15 victories by either knockout or submission.

Tang is also carrying with him a seven-fight winning streak, the latest being a first-round KO victory over Ryogo Takahashi--the same fighter that handed Min his first career loss.

Min bounced back from his loss to Takahashi by forcing Ma Jia Wen to submit via rear-naked choke two minutes into the first round.

As Thanh Le prepares to defend his featherweight title against Garry Tonon at the rescheduled ONE: X event, both of them may need to grow eyes at the back of their heads as they watch out for the winner between Tang and Min.

The Main Event’s Repercussions

Rittewada Petchyindee has a tall order in front of him for his promotional debut as he goes up against No. 1-ranked bantamweight Saemapetch Fairtex in the main event.

The 25-year-old southpaw fighter revealed in early October that his goal is to prove himself as one of the most skilled fighters in the promotion by having fights in both Muay Thai rules and kickboxing.

Facing his fellow countryman in the main event of a major card so soon is surprising to many, but his track record of winning titles left and right prior to joining ONE Championship speaks for itself.

Saemapetch has been with the promotion since 2018 and is riding a three-fight win streak, the two most recent being wins by way of knockout.

Soundly defeating Rittewada could force the promotion to have Saemapetch on a collision course with reigning bantamweight Muay Thai champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao in a rematch for the title.

However, should Rittewada pull off the upset, the promotion could be having a future title challenger on their hands if he racks up more wins after.

ONE: NextGen II will be streaming live on the official ONE Super App and the official ONE YouTube channel in Asia on November 12 at 8:30 PM (Singapore Standard Time).

Meanwhile, the American audience can watch the entire event via B/R Live on November 12 at 8:30 AM ET.