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VMTV Vaults | EP.38 – Deniz Ilbay

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Former World Champion boxer and EMC MMA athlete Deniz Ilbay joins us on this episode of VMTV Vaults. We discuss his Boxing career and transition into MMA, pay disparity between the two sports and his current run on German promotion, EMC.

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Interviews

“It Was An Honour” – Phetjeeja Feels Privileged To Have Fought Janet Todd In Legend’s Final Bout At ONE Fight Night 20

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Rising superstar Phetjeeja had a career-defining night at ONE Fight Night 20 this past weekend. 

The Thai phenom entered Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, as the interim ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion but left as the undisputed divisional queen when she toppled striking icon Janet Todd via unanimous decision in the main event of Saturday, 9th March, card. 

The five-round battle was “JT’s” final bout of her illustrious career, and Phetjeeja reflected on the significance of being the American star’s last opponent in her post-fight interview.

“It’s such an honor to fight Janet Todd in her retirement fight. I’m very happy that I was part of her last fight so she can remember me, and I can remember her. It’s a historic moment for both of us,” she said. 

With the World Titles unified, Phetjeeja now holds back-to-back wins over striking royalty. Before meeting Todd, she took out multiple-time World Champion Anissa Meksen to secure the interim strap at ONE Friday Fights 46 last December. 

Both victories were benchmarks for the young star, and when asked who the more difficult opponent to overcome was, she was unable to give a definitive answer.

“Both of them are very strong and were both challenging. I can’t compare both of them and decide which one was the most challenging,” Phetjeeja said. 

“I would think that they’re both challenging in different ways. I’m very happy to be able to get past both challenges.”

Across six promotional outings, “The Queen” has been untouchable, and it’s not only the kickboxing world that she has taken by storm. She has also finished all four of her Muay Thai contests thus far in ONE Championship within the distance.

Now enshrined as a World Champion, Phetjeeja is looking for her next challenge, which may lie in the world of super-fights. With an unbeaten slate in ONE’s Muay Thai ranks, she has an idea of who she’d like to face next. 

ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues successfully defended her crown against Cristina Morales in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 20 this past weekend, and “The Queen” looks to be eyeing up a challenge of the Brazilian’s gold in the near future.

“I think there’s a high chance of us facing each other soon, champion versus champion,” Phetjeeja said. 

“I think it’s more likely that I’ll go for the Muay Thai belt.”

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“It Means The World” – Jackie Buntan Discusses Fighting On International Women’s Day

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With an impressive 5-1 slate in ONE Championship, American star Jackie Buntan is a leading face in Muay Thai in her country. 

With International Women’s Day coming up this weekend, the world’s largest martial arts organization has lined up an all-female card for ONE Fight Night 20: Todd vs. Phetjeeja on Saturday, 9th March, and Buntan is set to appear in an intriguing catchweight battle with Italy’s Martine Michieletto.

The opportunity to feature prominently at such a special event isn’t lost on the Boxing Works standout, and she applauds ONE for helping to shape how women are seen in the combat sports realm nowadays. 

“It means the world. I think, back in 2021, I was fortunate enough to compete on another all-women’s card under ONE Championship. So the fact that they’re able to do this again a couple of years later, bringing even bigger names to the card, it’s so inspiring and so refreshing. And that’s what you want for the next generation,” Buntan revealed.

“When I was even younger, there were still women fighting and competing, but not nearly as much as there are today, even at an amateur level. So that’s growth. And that’s a win for the sport.”

Buntan will enter her battle with Michieletto at ONE Fight Night 20 on a two-fight winning streak, having bounced back from a failed challenge for the ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title in April 2022.

A unanimous decision win over Amber Kitchen and a first-round knockout of Diandra Martin have kept her firmly in the hunt for another run at gold, and a victory on Saturday could have interesting implications.

Michieletto will surely put up a stern fight, especially as she’s coming off a debut win against Kitchen last June. But Jackie Buntan believes her technical abilities will allow her to upend the Italian.

“She has a very kickboxing-focused style. A southpaw – obviously, that stood out for me. Just that she’s a lefty. Looks like she’s good with the hands, quick, snappy punches, and is able to clinch as well. So I think she’s well-rounded,” she said of her foe.

“What weaknesses I see, I guess it’s just a more foundational type of thing. Being upright and her stance and her footing, stuff like that. I’m very confident in my smarts. My technicality, my power, and my adaptability.”

As the 26-year-old striker gears up to kick off her 2024 campaign, she’s hoping to be in action as much as possible.

If that means switching sports to compete in kickboxing or even taking part in one of ONE Championship’s unique matchups, so be it. Buntan wants her name to be on top. And she’ll do what she has to in order to get it there.

“Oh, man, a lot of things. I’m looking for an active year, especially after just having one fight last year. So that’s getting more fights in Muay Thai, kickboxing, and special rules,” she said. 

“Boxing has my eyes. You know, I think that would be a super fun match to make. But all of that is just going after what I want. Really just being selfish about it.”

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“I Have No Weaknesses Now” – Anatoly Malykhin Feels Bulletproof Ahead Of ONE 166: Qatar

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Two-weight ONE World Champion Anatoly Malykhin has left a trail of destruction in his wake in ONE Championship. And the unbeaten Russian expects to continue it when he challenges Reinier de Ridder for the ONE Middleweight MMA World Title this weekend.

The duo collides for a second time in the main event of ONE 166: Qatar this Friday, 1st March, where Malykhin can make history by becoming ONE’s first-ever three-division titleholder if he manages to put down De Ridder again. 

“Sladkiy” ended the Dutchman’s 16-fight win streak in less than a round in their first meeting at ONE on Prime Video 5 in December 2022 to claim the ONE Light Heavyweight MMA World Title, and he’s feeling unconquerable ahead of the rematch.

“This time we focused on wrestling. I’m pretty sure De Ridder will try to wrestle with me. We worked a lot on freestyle wrestling, so it will be hard to take me down, and we also worked on jiu-jitsu,” Malykhin revealed.

“I have no weaknesses now. I’m very good in all aspects of MMA: I’m a good striker, and my wrestling is great, and my physical condition is at its peak.”

Since arriving in ONE in 2021, Malykhin has made quick work of all opposition. Not only that, he’s also scored finishes in all five bouts and secured the light heavyweight and heavyweight straps along the way.

“Sladkiy” sees every win as significant. But the ultimate prize he longs for is De Ridder’s remaining World Title. 

It’s almost unheard of for a fighter to drop two weight classes. But Malykhin knows he’ll be in a league of his own if he scores a win at ONE 166, and he’s expecting a similar showcase to the one he put on in their first battle 15 months ago. 

“I just want to make history, and that’s what pushes me to get up early in the morning and give it 100%,” he said.

“The scary thing for all my opponents is that I don’t have a plan for any fight at all. I just go out there and do what I love doing and enjoy it. When we get in the cage with De Ridder, we’ll see in the first scrap what De Ridder can do at 93 kilograms. I think it’s going to be the same as last time.” 

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