The Best Pictures From The Inner Circle On May 15
· Yahoo Sports
ONE Championship kicked off its monthly tripleheader with The Inner Circle, which emanated live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 15.
The Asia primetime card, which streamed exclusively on live.onefc.com, featured four explosive MMA and Muay Thai bouts that shocked fans both in the arena and those watching around the globe.
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In the main event, Russian powerhouse Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin avenged his lone career blemish, as he knocked out his arch-rival, Senegalese behemoth “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane, to reclaim the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title and restore his status as a three-division king.
Following the match, Malykhin laid down his gloves in the center of the ring and announced his retirement from the sport. The Russian’s legendary performance earned him a US$100,000 performance bonus.
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The co-main event also featured a highlight-reel moment that had the combat sports world buzzing.
Reigning ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo showcased the power in his hands by stopping former Pancrase Champion Hiroyuki “Japanese Beast” Tetsuka in round two. The spectacular finish marked Ruotolo’s first-ever knockout victory in MMA and earned him a US$50,000 performance bonus.
Before we turn the page, take a look at the best pictures from The Inner Circle, courtesy of our ringside photographers.
Photo courtesy of ONE Championship