ONE 166
{{short description|Combat sport events in 2024}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name=ONE 166: Qatar
|image= ONE 166 Qatar.jpg
|image_size=
|promotion=ONE Championship
|date={{start date|2024|03|1}}
|venue=Lusail Sports Arena
|city=Lusail, Qatar
|previousevent= ONE Friday Fights 53: Phetsukumvit vs. Kongsuk
|followingevent= ONE Friday Fights 54: Ortikov vs. Watcharapon
}}
ONE 166: Qatar was a combat sport event produced by ONE Championship that took place on March 1, 2024, at Lusail Sports Arena in Lusail, Qatar.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-19 |title=ONE Championship moves Qatar debut, confirms Japan return for early 2024 |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3242091/one-championship-moves-qatar-debut-confirms-japan-return-early-2024 |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}
Background
This event marked the organization's debut in Qatar. It also the second visit to Middle East, since ONE FC: Reign of Champions in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in August 2014.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-19 |title=ONE 166 set for Qatar on March 1st |url=https://asianmma.com/one-166-set-for-qatar-on-march-1st/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Asian MMA |language=en}}
A ONE Middleweight World Championship bout between current champion Reinier de Ridder (also former ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion) and the ONE Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Anatoly Malykhin headlined the event.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-28 |title=Anatoly Malykhin to challenge Reinier de Ridder for Middleweight MMA word title in rematch at ONE 166: Qatar |url=https://www.onefc.com/news/anatoly-malykhin-to-challenge-reinier-de-ridder-for-middleweight-mma-word-title-in-rematch-at-one-166-qatar/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=ONE Championship – The Home of Martial Arts |language=en-US}} The pairing previously met at ONE on Prime Video 5 in a light heavyweight title, which Malykhin captured the title by first round knockout.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/12/3/23491003/one-on-prime-video-5-results-anatoliy-malykhin-starches-reinier-de-ridder-in-first-for-second-title|title=ONE on Prime Video 5 results: Anatoliy Malykhin starches Reinier de Ridder in first for second title|website=MMA Fighting|author=Steven Marrocco|date=2022-12-03|access-date=2022-12-03}} If successful, Malykhin would become the first fighter in MMA history to win championships in three divisions as well as to hold them simultaneously.{{Cite web |last=Cruz |first=Guillherme |date=2023-12-28 |title=Anatoly Malykhin to challenge Reinier de Ridder for third ONE title in March |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/12/28/24017445/anatoly-malykhin-challenge-reinier-de-ridder-third-one-title-qatar |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}
A ONE Featherweight World Championship unification rematch between current champion Tang Kai and former champion/current interim title holder Thanh Le took place at the co-main event.{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Vince |date=2024-01-02 |title=ONE 166: Tang Kai, Thanh Le set for featherweight MMA world title unification match in Qatar |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-one-166-tang-kai-thanh-le-set-featherweight-mma-world-title-unification-match-qatar |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en}} The pairing previously met at ONE 160 which Tang captured the title by unanimous decision.{{Cite web|url=https://www.onefc.com/news/surgical-tang-kai-makes-history-after-masterful-performance-against-thanh-le/|title=Surgical Tang Kai Makes History After Masterful Performance Against Thanh Le|publisher=ONE Championship – The Home of Martial Arts|author=Christian Jacinto|date=2022-08-27|access-date=2023-01-02}} The pairing was previously scheduled to meet at ONE Fight Night 12, but Tang withdraw from the bout due to a knee injury.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title=Tang Kai injured, out of ONE Fight Night 12 |url=https://asianmma.com/tang-kai-injured-out-of-one-fight-night-12/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Asian MMA |language=en}}
A ONE Strawweight World Championship rematch between current champion Jarred Brooks and former two-time champion Joshua Pacio took place at the event.{{Cite web |last=Icasiano |first=Nissi |date=2023-12-18 |title=Joshua Pacio gets rematch with Jarred Brooks at ONE 166 in Qatar |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/joshua-pacio-gets-rematch-with-jarred-brooks-at-one-166-in-qatar/291867 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en}} The pairing previously met at ONE 164, where Brooks captured the title by unanimous decision.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-03 |title=ONE Championship 164: Brooks out-strikes Pacio to take strawweight title |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3201950/one-championship-164-joshua-pacio-vs-jarred-brooks-live-results-updatese |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}
A ONE Women's Atomweight World Championship bout between current champion Stamp Fairtex (also ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix winner, former ONE Women's Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion) and Denice Zamboanga was expected to take place at the event.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Stamp Fairtex makes first women's atomweight MMA world title defense against Denice Zamboanga at ONE 166: Qatar |url=https://www.onefc.com/news/stamp-fairtex-makes-first-womens-atomweight-mma-world-title-defense-against-denice-zamboanga-at-one-166-qatar/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts |language=en-US}} However, the bout was moved to June so the fighters can take part in the start of an original docuseries production.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-21 |title=ONE Championship drops title fights from Qatar card, adds regional talent |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3252629/one-championship-title-fights-dropped-qatar-card-local-talent-added-one-166-show |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}
A ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Championship bout between current champion Tye Ruotolo and Izaak Michell was expected to take place at the event.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Tye Ruotolo to defend welterweight Submission Grappling world title against Izaak Michell at ONE 166: Qatar |url= https://www.onefc.com/news/tye-ruotolo-to-defend-welterweight-submission-grappling-world-title-against-izaak-michell-at-one-166-qatar/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts |language=en-US}} However, the bout was moved back to April for unknown reasons.
Former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama was expected to face Vladimir Kuzmin in a bantamweight Muay Thai bout.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-06 |title=Nong-O Hama squares off against Vladimir Kuzmin at ONE 166: Qatar |url=https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/one-championship/nong-o-hama-squares-off-against-vladimir-kuzmin-at-one-166-qatar/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |website={{!}} BJPenn.com |language=en-US}} However, Nong-O was removed from the bout for unknown reason and was replaced by promotional newcomer Zafer Sayik in a catchweight of 147.75 pounds.
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main card (Amazon Prime Video)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|def.
|Reinier de Ridder (c)
|TKO (retirement)
|3
|1:16
|For the ONE Middleweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|Tang Kai (c)
|def.
|Thanh Le (ic)
|TKO (punches)
|3
|4:48
|For the ONE Featherweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Strawweight
|def.
|Jarred Brooks (c)
|DQ (illegal slam)
|1
|0:56
|For the ONE Strawweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|def.
|DQ (timidity)
|3
|4:50
|The bout was ended by disqualification due to the referee giving Bhullar a red card for inactivity.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (147 lb)
|Mehdi Zatout
|def.
|Zuhayr Al-Qahtani
|Decision (unanimous)
|3
|3:00
|Boxing bout.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (147.75 lb) Muay Thai
|Vladimir Kuzmin
|def.
|Zafer Sayik
|Decision (unanimous)
|3
|3:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight Submission Grappling
|Cleber Sousa
|def.
|Submission (reverse triangle armbar)
|1
|5:31
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight Muay Thai
|Ali Saldoev
|def.
|Zakaria El Jamari
|KO (punches)
|2
|0:51
|Saldoev failed hydration; bout negotiated at catchweight
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight Muay Thai
|Shinji Suzuki
|def.
|Decision (unanimous)
|3
|3:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Strawweight
|def.
|Jeremy Miado
|Submission (bulldog choke)
|1
|4:04
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|header=no}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.{{Cite web |last=Pimentel |first=Anatoly |date=2024-03-01 |title=ONE 166: Qatar - Who got the $50,000 bonuses? |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-one-166-qatar-who-got-50-000-bonuses-acc79005 |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en}}
- Performance of the Night: Anatoly Malykhin and Tang Kai
See also
{{Portal|Martial Arts}}