ONE 168

{{Infobox MMA event

|name=ONE 168: Denver

|image= ONE 168 poster.jpg

|image_size=

|promotion=ONE Championship

|date={{start date|2024|09|6}}

|venue=Ball Arena

|city=Denver, Colorado, United States

|previousevent=ONE Friday Fights 78: Pakorn vs. Reis

|followingevent=ONE Friday Fights 79: Kongchai vs. Abdulmuslimov

}}

ONE 168: Denver was a combat sport event produced by ONE Championship that took place on September 6, 2024, at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, United States.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-10 |title=ONE Championship announces 2024 calendar, includes two U.S. events |url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/01/one-championship-2024-fight-cards-calendar-denver-atlanta |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=MMA Junkie |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Raimondi |first=Marc |date=2024-01-10 |title=ONE Championship announces Denver, Atlanta events for late 2024 |url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/39279387/one-championship-announces-denver-atlanta-events-late-2024 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Background

The event marked the promotion's second visit to the United States and second in Colorado, since ONE Fight Night 10, which took place in Broomfield in May 2023.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Damon |date=2024-01-10 |title=ONE Championship returns to U.S. for 2 events in 2024 |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/1/10/24033254/one-championship-returns-to-u-s-for-2-events-in-2024 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=ONE Championship returns to Colorado on Sept. 6 at Ball Arena |language=en |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2024/03/27/one-championship-returns-colorado-ball-arena/ |access-date=2024-03-27}}

A ONE Women's Strawweight World Championship bout between current champion Xiong Jing Nan and the ONE Women's Atomweight Champion (also ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix winner, former ONE Women's Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion) Stamp Fairtex was expected to headline the event.{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Eddie |date=2024-03-27 |title=ONE 168 Headlined By Stamp Fairtex, Jonathan Haggerty, In Denver |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2024/03/27/one-168-headlined-by-stamp-fairtex-jonathan-haggerty-in-denver/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Cageside Press |language=en-US}} However on May 21, it was announced that Stamp was forced to withdraw due to serious knee injury.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Damon |date=2024-05-21 |title=Stamp Fairtex out of June fight, U.S. card after serious knee injury |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/5/21/24161437/stamp-fairtex-suffers-serious-knee-injury-forced-out-upcoming-fights-including-u-s-card-in-september |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}

A ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship bout between current champion (also the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing Champion and former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai Champion) Jonathan Haggerty and the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing Champion Superlek Kiatmuu9 served as the new main event.{{Cite news |title=Stamp Fairtex and Jonathan Haggerty Headline ONE's Return to the United States |language=en |work=Sports Illustrated MMA News, Analysis and More |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/wresting/one-championship-returns-to-america |access-date=2024-03-27}} The pairing previously met at Yokkao 31 in October 2018, which Superlek won by TKO in second round.{{Cite web |title=YOKKAO 31 - 32: A Collision of Power & Will |url=https://uk.yokkao.com/blogs/news/yokkao-31-32-collision-power-will |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=YOKKAO}}

A ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship bout between current champion (also 2022 ADCC World Champion) Kade Ruotolo and Mikey Musumeci was expected to take place at the event.{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Suryakant |date=2024-04-25 |title=Mikey Musumeci Moves Up to Challenge Kade Ruotolo's Reign in Submission Grappling Super Fight at ONE 168: Denver |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/one-championship-mma-news-mikey-musumeci-moves-up-to-challenge-kade-ruotolos-reign-in-submission-grappling-super-fight-at-one-168-denver/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=EssentiallySports |language=en-US}} However, on September 1, it was announced that Ruotolo had withdrawn from the bout due to injury.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-01 |title=ONE 168 Loses Major Main Card Title Fight |url= https://www.si.com/fannation/mma/one/one-168-loses-major-main-card-title-fight |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Sports Illustrated MMA News, Analysis and More |language=en-US}} Musumeci now was expected to face Bebeto Oliveira in a flyweight title instead.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-05 |title=Mikey Musumeci Defends Flyweight Title Against Bebeto Oliveira Following Kade Ruotolo's Withdrawal

|url=https://www.blackbeltmag.com/mikey-musumeci-defends-flyweight-title-against-bebeto-oliveira-following-kade-ruotolo-s-withdrawal |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=Black Belt Magazine |language=en-US}} At the weigh-ins, Musumeci came in at 142 lb, 6 pounds over the flyweight limit for a title fight. As a result, Musumeci was stripped of the title and only Oliveira was eligible to win it.{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Kian |title=Mikey Musumeci Misses Weight, Stripped Of ONE Championship Title

|url=https://jitsmagazine.com/mikey-musumeci-misses-weight-stripped-of-one-championship-title/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Jitsmagazine}} In turn, the bout was cancelled when Musumeci has elected not to fight despite being offered an openweight as well.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-06 |title=Mikey Musumeci off ONE Championship's Denver card, turns down openweight bout

|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-mikey-musumeci-one-championship-s-denver-card-turns-openweight-bout |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en}}

A lightweight bout between Maurice Abévi and Samat Mamedov was removed from the event after Mamedov pulled out with a broken arm during the weigh-ins.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-05 |title=ONE 168: Denver Weigh-In Results and Video

|url=https://combatpress.com/2024/09/one-168-denver-weigh-in-results-and-video/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Combat Press |language=en-US}}

At the weigh-ins, the bout between Aung La Nsang and Shamil Erdogan moved to 213.75 lb after the pairing missed weight and hydration in the designated time window. Josue Cruz missed weight (142 lb) and was fined 30% of his purse to Johan Ghazali, Ghazali has also re-weighed in at 141.5 lb.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-06 |title=ONE 168: Denver Weigh-In & Hydration Test Results

|url=https://mmauk.net/2024/09/06/one-168-denver-weigh-in-hydration-test-results/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=MMA UK |language=en}}

Results

{{MMAevent bout

|Bantamweight Muay Thai

|Superlek Kiatmuu9

|def.

|Jonathan Haggerty (c)

|KO (elbow)

|0:49

|For the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship.

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Catchweight (140 lbs) Muay Thai

|Saeksan Or. Kwanmuang

|def.

|Liam Harrison

|TKO (punches)

|1:49

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Catchweight (215 lbs)

|Shamil Erdogan

|def.

|Aung La Nsang

|TKO (punches)

|2:48

|Both fighters missed weight: Aung La (210 lb) and Erdogan (213.75 lb).

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Bantamweight Muay Thai

|John Lineker

|def.

|Asa Ten Pow

|KO (punch)

|2:50

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Women's Atomweight

|Victória Souza

|def.

|Alyse Anderson

|Decision (unanimous)

|5:00

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Welterweight

|Isi Fitikefu

|def.

|Hiroyuki Tetsuka

|Decision (unanimous)

|5:00

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Lightweight

|Adrian Lee

|def.

|Nicholas Cornejo

|Submission (rear-naked choke)

|2:37

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Flyweight Muay Thai

|Johan Ghazali

|def.

|Josue Cruz

|KO (punches)

|3:00

|Cruz missed weight (142 lb).

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Flyweight Muay Thai

|Johan Estupiñan

|def.

|Sean Climaco

|TKO (punch)

|1:28

}}

{{Cite web |title=ONE 168: Denver

|url=https://www.onefc.com/events/one168/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=ONE Championship – The Home of Martial Arts |date=10 January 2024 |language=en-US}}