Rivalries: Martin Nguyen

No matter where Martin Nguyen’s journey leads him from here on out, he will always be a historical figure in One Championship.

The Singapore-based organization’s first simultaneous multi-division titleholder, he has compiled a 10-5 record across his 15 appearances inside the company. Nguyen, however, now finds himself on a troubling two-fight losing streak as he sets his sights on Kirill Gorobets in a One Championship “Lights Out” featherweight showcase on March 11 at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. The 33-year-old Australian last competed in September, when he was victimized by Jae Woong Kim in a stunning first-round knockout at One Championship “Revolution.”

As Nguyen awaits Gorobets, here is a look at a few of the rivalries that have helped shape his career:

Marat Gafurov

Nguyen completed his climb to the One Championship summit, as he knocked out the previously unbeaten Russian and laid claim to the undisputed featherweight crown in the “Quest for Greatness” headliner on Aug. 18, 2017 at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dethroned in dramatic fashion by a man he had submitted in just 41 seconds less than two years prior, an unconscious Gafurov hit the deck 1:27 into Round 2. Nguyen fought through some initial adversity to avenge what was the only loss of his career at the time. Gafurov executed multiple takedowns in the first round, but came away empty-handed in his hunt for the fight-ending choke. Early in the second, Nguyen separated from the clinch-minded grappler, moved into open space and connected with a devastating overhand right. Gafurov fell face first to the canvas, bringing their rematch to a shocking conclusion.

Eduard Folayang

“The Situ-Asian” etched his name in the history books by becoming One Championship’s first simultaneous two-division titleholder, as he wiped out Folayang with second-round punches to capture the organization’s lightweight belt in their “Legends of the World” main event on Nov. 10, 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines. Nguyen drew the curtain 2:20 into Round 2, his unconscious adversary resting motionless at his feet. Folayang’s reign atop the division lasted just 364 days. Nguyen—who entered the cage already in possession of the One Championship featherweight crown—countered a spinning attack from the Lakay MMA rep, felled the Filipino star with a clean right hook and mopped up the remnants with follow-up punches before referee Olivier Coste arrived on the scene.

Bibiano Fernandes

“The Flash” retained his undisputed One Championship bantamweight title, as he eked out a five-round split decision over Nguyen under the “Iron Will” marquee on March 24, 2018 at Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The loss denied the Australian in his bid to become the first three-division champion in a major mixed martial arts organization. Nguyen outstruck the longtime Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt for much of their encounter, opened a cut on his forehead and leaned on stellar takedown defense against the determined AMC Pankration representative. Fernandes’ persistence paid off in Round 5, where he sat down the fatigued challenger with an overhand right and moved in for the potential kill. Nguyen managed to withstand the follow-up attack, but the champion’s perseverance and late surge appeared to swing the scorecards in his favor.

Thanh Le

Le brought about some regime change in One Championship, as he struck down Nguyen with punches in the third round of their “Inside the Matrix” co-feature and walked away with company’s featherweight title on Oct. 30, 2020 at Singapore Indoor Arena in Kallang, Singapore. The end cam 2:19 into Round 3. It was a magnificent effort from Le, who threw the champion off his scent with some deft footwork in the first two rounds. However, everything seemed to be falling into place for Nguyen in the third. He staggered Le on multiple occasions with powerful right hooks but never managed to dial in the damage, and his aggression eventually came back to bite him. Le clipped the Sanford MMA standout with a chopping right hand and swarmed with a knee strike and follow-up punches before allowing him to stand on unsteady legs. A burst of punches flew next, and Nguyen ate a pair of hooks—first a left, then a right—that shut him down, prompted the stoppage and resulted in the 155-pound title changing hands for the first time in more than 1,100 days.