Ubaid Hussain joins the main roster of ONE Championship, and he is ready to dazzle and continue where he left off on the promotion’s weekly Asia primetime series.
The British-Pakistani fighter took his record to a perfect 17-0 — alongside a pristine 8-0 promotional run — with another commanding performance at The Inner Circle 28.
He cruised to a unanimous decision win over Thai athlete Isannuea Sor Sasiwat in their flyweight Muay Thai clash in Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium last Friday, August 28.
The young gun dominated most of the exchanges, even dropping his foe early in round one. Though the finish never arrived, the Leeds slugger had only one gear throughout the next two stanzas.
He trimmed the distance behind sleek footwork and speed, connecting with heavy artillery whenever his foe was in range. When the final bell rang, the result was never in doubt.
That said, Hussain admits hearing his name being announced as the recipient of the US$100,000 main roster contract did come as a surprise. The 20-year-old said:
“We already knew we won the fight, but I didn’t expect to get the contract. I was thinking about it, and I was just happy that I won. When Mitch came in, I was quite surprised, but I kind of thought I was going to get the contract.”
It was a well-deserved moment for the England-based bruiser, who had overcome every test the organization put in front of him since he opened his promotional account with a first-round knockout of Petsinchai Kingballroofphuket in December 2024.
He has emerged victorious in every bout since, showcasing more depth and growth in his striking arsenal. Hussain’s undefeated 17-0 run has come against tougher and more experienced foes, but time and time again, the youngster displayed expertise to compete like someone beyond his years.
The triumph and the main roster contract aside, the Kiatphontip fighter believes he has yet to hit his peak form – a scary proposition for anyone who faces him next, given how he’s controlled each and every one of his fights under the ONE banner. He continued:
“I’m going to train harder, get stronger, and be ready for the next challenge. I want to improve my power. I want to be able to pick my shots and land every shot. I can do better, and in my next fight I will show improvements.”
Hussain says he’s ‘ready for any challenge’ next
ONE Championship’s flyweight Muay Thai division is stacked with talent from bottom to top. A variety of crafty finishers, technical wizards, and tough challengers could be waiting in the wings for the young gun from Leeds.
However, none of that seems to bother Hussain, who is game to level up his craft as he seeks to be part of the organization’s bigger cards – primarily the ONE SAMURAI series in Japan. The Kiatphontip slugger added:
“I’m ready whenever, and I’m ready for any challenge. I’m ready to fight on the Japan card, or I want to fight on the Qatar card as well next year. And hopefully Chatri [Sityodtong] can get me on there, and I will perform at my best. We’re going to take over.”
