MANILA, Philippines – ONE Championship on Monday announced that it has established a professional kickboxing league that features some of the best local and international striking talent from around the world.

ONE Championship Kickboxing aims to provide the world's best martial artists a global platform to showcase the beauty of Asia's striking arts, such as Muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, tae kwon do, kung fu, wushu, sanda, silat, lethwei, and more.

"Over the years, ONE Championship has earned its reputation as the home of martial arts by showcasing the most exciting authentic martial arts action on the planet,", said Chatri Sityodtong, the chairman and CEO of ONE Championship.

"Asia has been the home of martial arts for 5,000 years, and we will now showcase Asia's striking arts to fans from around the world. Featuring the best martial arts talent across the globe, ONE Championship Kickboxing aims to showcase Asia's striking arts front and center as part of our ONE Championship live events. As a fan, you will see an array of Asia's martial arts in action such as Muay Thai, tae kwon do, karate, kung fu, lethwei, and many others," he added.

ONE Championship Kickboxing will be officially launched in Manila at ONE: Heroes of Honor on April 20 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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Some of the warriors who have signed on with ONE Championship Kickboxing include top Muay Thai talents such as multiple-time world champions Petchboonchu FA Group, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, Yodsaenklai Fairtex, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, Singtongnoi Por Telakun, Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, Sagetdao Petpayathai, Kwankhao Mor. Rattanabandit, and Yodcherry Sityodtong,

International world champions such as Giorgio Petrosyan, Fabio Pinca, Alain Ngalani, Regian Ersel, Sergej Maslobojev, and many others have also signed to the new league.

"Fans will be treated to the most exciting kickboxing matches where the best face the best inside of both our ring and our cage. Some matches will be under standard international kickboxing rules in our ring, and other matches will be under modified hybrid striking rules in our cage. This is a game-changer in the world of martial arts, and I am excited to kick things off this April," said Sityodtong.

The league will open with a showdown between Girogio Petrosyan of Italy and Jo Nattawut of Thailand.

Petrosyan is known as one of the finest offensive talents in the world. He began his professional Muay Thai career at age 16, competing between bantamweight and middleweight. He sports a professional record of 85-2-2, 2 NC, and is known for an incredible six-year stretch wherein he won 42 straight bouts.

Nattawut, meanwhile, is a 25-year-old kickboxing star who now fights out of Atlanta, Georgia. He has a kickboxing record of 60-11-2. A Lion Fight super welterweight champion and WMC champion, Nattawut is known for his powerful elbow and knee strikes.

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