ONE 166: Qatar card made official as key fighters pass hydration and make weight

There were no problems for the main event combatants Reinier de Ridder and Anatoly Malykhin who will meet for the ONE middleweight MMA title at the Lusail Sports Arena tomorrow from 3.30 Arabia Standard Time. Malykhin looked in great shape as he looks to make history by becoming the first fighter to hold world titles in three different weight divisions concurrently. His weight management has been made all the more incredible considering his last ONE Championship outing was in the heavyweight division. De Ridder similarly had no issues with hydration or on the scale, and he seeks revenge on the man who took his light-heavyweight title.

The co-main event had a momentary worry when MMA featherweight champion Tang Kai failed his hydration test, only to pass, and make weight at the second attempt. He will defend his title against interim champion Thanh Le, who faced no issues this morning. 

The second co-main event is also ready to go with both champion Jarred Brooks and challenger Joshua Pacio having no hydration or weight issues ahead of their strawweight MMA clash.

For the MENA talent on the card, the only slight concern was Iran’s Amir Aliakbari failing his first hydration test, before passing and making weight at the second attempt to confirm his heavyweight clash with India’s Arjan Bhullar.

Elsewhere, Yemeni-Saudi Osamah Almarwai and his opponent Cleber Sousa has their flyweight submission grappling contest confirmed, as did Saudi Arabia’s Zuhayr Al-Qahtani and Algeria’s Mehdi Zatout who will compete in ONE’s first boxing match since 2017.

The waiting is now over, ONE Championship makes its Qatar debut tomorrow with a card packed full of mouthwatering fights. Three title fights, MENA fighters looking to build their legacies, and bouts with consequences at the top-end of divisions across the card – this is one not to be missed.

ONE Championship returns to the Middle East on March 1 with ONE 166: Qatar at the Lusail Sports Arena, Lusail. A historic night awaits with no less than three title fights. Fans in the Middle East can watch live from 3.30pm AST on BeIN Sports