ONE Fight Night 46: Hemetsberger vs. Diachkova aired live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium this past Friday, August 14, and the card’s kickboxing action delivered drama from bell to bell.
One matchup saw two strikers refuse to give an inch, trading fire until the final horn in a tightly contested battle of wills. Another turned into a back-and-forth affair that tilted decisively in the later rounds, and in a much-anticipated sport switch, a reigning ONE World Champion needed just two rounds to make his mark in a new discipline.
Here’s everything that went down in the kickboxing matches at ONE Fight Night 46.
Carrillo Demolishes Zhou In Kickboxing Debut
“King of the North” Nico Carrillo needed just two rounds to make an emphatic impression in his kickboxing debut, finishing Zhou Jiaqiang via knockout.
The reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion switched codes for the first time in search of two-sport glory, and while Zhou gave him problems early, the 30-year-old Scot ultimately proved too much to handle.
Carrillo spent the better part of round one testing the waters, working his left kick along the side of Zhou’s body and right arm. But the 20-year-old Chinese striker looked unfazed by the challenge in front of him, firing back with a cracking right hand that shook up the “King of the North” and served notice that this would not be a straightforward evening.
The Chinese promotional newcomer even landed a front kick to the face in round two. But soon, the Glasgow powerhouse made the necessary adjustments to make him pay. He found his rhythm, fired off his punches, and landed a hook to the body that had Zhou retreating toward the ropes.
Sensing the finish, Carrillo blasted him with a right hand that practically sent his head into the crowd. From there, Carrillo stalked his stumbling opponent around the ring, unloading right hands in succession until Zhou went down. He could not beat the referee’s eight-count, the fight’s lone knockdown proving decisive at the 2:37 mark.
The finish announced Carrillo’s arrival in the kickboxing ranks in spectacular fashion, continuing his charge toward two-sport supremacy in ONE Championship’s stacked featherweight kickboxing division. The Scot lifted his record to 30-4 and looks ahead to bigger challenges in his new discipline.
Kana Beats Yu In Kickboxing Slugfest
Former four-time K-1 Champion Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto may have returned to the ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Title picture. The Japanese veteran marched through a taller foe’s defense and traded fire until the final bell, ultimately claiming a unanimous decision over Hong Kong’s Yu Yau Pui.
Yu used her jab early to keep the fight at a range that favored her reach advantage, but the 34-year-old bit down on her mouthpiece and pressed forward regardless, sending lefts and rights whistling down the middle. Late in the opening round of the atomweight kickboxing match, a left hook stunned the Hong Kong striker, who also absorbed a head-tilting high kick to end the frame.
Kana opened round two with a head kick and then traded punches with her 33-year-old adversary, but Yu reached for the clinch and landed a knee, which is illegal under the kickboxing rule set. After repeated warnings, she was given a yellow card. Once the action resumed, “Krusher Queen” cut through her opponent’s guard again, landing chin-crunching left and right hooks. But Yu hung tough, countering with straight one-twos down the middle of her own.
Yu was hit with a second yellow card to open the third for excessive clinching, and both women spent the rest of the frame exploding into boxing exchanges, neither giving ground nor slowing the pace until the final bell sounded to end the pulsating encounter.
The judges were unanimous, and Kana returned to the win column by handing Yu a loss in her professional kickboxing debut. That performance elevated the Japanese warrior’s record to 25-7.
Souza Jr. Weathers Kovtun’s Storm, Claims Decision Win
Denis “Denizinho” Souza Jr. survived an early onslaught and turned the tide with sharp boxing combinations to outpoint Dmitrii “The Silent Assassin” Kovtun by unanimous decision in their bantamweight kickboxing clash.
The 28-year-old Russian-Tajik striker set the tone early, pressing forward and forcing Souza Jr. onto the back foot. Kovtun applied relentless pressure and looked to slice through with his straight left hand, but “Denizinho” carefully countered to keep the opening stanza competitive.
Souza Jr. found his rhythm in round two. The 28-year-old Brazilian’s four-punch and five-punch combinations began finding a home, and he mixed in jumping knees that snapped his adversary’s head back. The damage piled up on Kovtun’s face, though “The Silent Assassin” refused to fold.
Kovtun searched for one big right hand to turn the fight back in his favor in the third and final frame, closing the distance behind his forward pressure. Souza Jr. answered by peppering his tired rival with punches, and he even spun into wild back kicks that drew roars from the crowd.
The judges were unanimous with their decision, awarding Souza Jr. the nod to push his professional record to 17-2. This also marked his first ONE Championship victory.