ONE Championship has officially announced the main and co-main events for ONE Fight Night 38 on Friday, December 5, from Bangkok, Thailand, featuring two world title showdowns that will close out the promotion’s 2025 U.S. primetime schedule. Reigning ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio Andrade will defend his crown against No. 4-ranked contender Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu in the headliner, while Brazilian submission ace Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis meets Japan’s Daiki Yonekura for the vacant ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title.
Andrade Makes Second Title Defense Against Mongolian Contender
Andrade enters his second title defense with a 10-2 (1 NC) career record with a 7-0 (1 NC) MMA slate in ONE Championship. He also has a reputation as one of the division’s most lethal finishers. The Brazilian captured gold by crushing compatriot John Lineker via TKO in February 2023, and then he knocked out South Korea’s Kwon Won Il in 42 seconds at ONE 170 earlier this year.
The 27-year-old brings a well-rounded skill set built on his striking repertoire, having compiled a 40-4 record across Muay Thai and kickboxing competition before transitioning to the all-encompassing sport. His MMA career includes a dominant ONE Championship run that began with a 2020 submission victory over veteran Mark Abelardo, followed by four consecutive wins to earn his initial title shot.
Andrade Hungry to Prove Himself Among Preeminent Bantamweights
Despite challenging then-ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty for the vacant kickboxing crown in November 2023 and falling short, Andrade has remained focused on cementing his legacy as the premier bantamweight MMA king while establishing himself as one of the prominent finishers in all of ONE Championship.
Now, he finally gets the man he has called out.
Baatarkhuu Earns Title Shot With Impressive Streak
Image Courtesy of ONE Championship.
The 36-year-old Mongolian contender has positioned himself perfectly for his championship opportunity against Andrade with three consecutive victories, which showcased his finishing ability and veteran savvy. Training under the guidance of former ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Narantungalag Jadambaa, Baatarkhuu holds a 13-3 career slate with a 62 percent finishing rate.
Baatarkhuu’s path to contention includes notable victories over Carlo Bumina-ang, Aaron Canarte, and Jeremy Pacatiw, demonstrating his ability to defeat tough opposition. After winning his first three promotional bouts, the Mongolian veteran suffered his lone ONE Championship defeat against Artem Belakh before rebounding stronger than ever with his current winning streak.
The protege of Jadambaa possesses diverse finishing skills with two submissions and two TKO victories among his ONE Championship wins, making him a dangerous challenger who is capable of lifting the gold away from the Brazilian kingpin.
Diogo Reis Faces Japanese Grappling Star For Vacant Gold
In addition to the MMA title bout between Andrade and Baatarkhuu, the co-main event promises elite submission grappling action as 23-year-old Brazilian sensation Reis takes on Japanese black belt Yonekura for the vacant ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship. The Sao Paulo-based “Baby Shark” has quickly established himself as one of the sport’s brightest young talents with two ADCC World Championship Titles and a successful ONE Championship debut.
Reis made an instant impact in his first promotional appearance earlier this year, submitting Japan’s Shoya Ishiguro via kimura. The BJJ black belt’s youth and aggressive submission-hunting style have made him one of the sport’s most exciting competitors.
Yonekura represents Japan’s grappling elite as the 2024 IBJJF Pan Pacific Champion and a black belt with proven credentials against world-class competition. The Japanese challenger brings technical prowess into this vacant title bout, making him a formidable opponent for the popular shark.
ONE Fight Night 38 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, December 5. The action begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.