The world’s largest martial arts organization continues its 2026 U.S. primetime calendar with ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video.
The card, which will air live from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, February 13, will feature two massive ONE World Championship fights, as well as seven additional high-octane bouts in Muay Thai, MMA, kickboxing and submission grappling.
With championships on the line and fan favorites returning, the spectacle promises to be non-stop fireworks from start to finish.
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That said, here are five explosive reasons why you must watch ONE Fight Night 40 this Friday.
#1 Buntan and Hemetsberger renew rivalry
The rivalry that formed after five rounds of ruthless battles begins a new chapter on the field where it all began.
When Jackie Buntan and the “Eternally Hungry” Stella Hemetsberger first collided at Muay Thai mecca ONE Fight Night 35 last September, the Austrian delivered a career-defining performance to capture the ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship.
She survived a piston-like right hand from Bontain, fell twice in the opening round, and showed grit and determination throughout the championship rounds to extend her raw promotion slate to 4-0 and become Austria’s first-ever promotion champion.
Now, things have changed. While the blueprint for “Always Hungry” may have been to overcome Boxing Works’ fighting pride, this ONE Fight Night 40 main event rematch took place under kickboxing rules, with Wen Tan competing as the reigning queen.
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This marks the Filipino-American’s first defense of the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship since defeating kickboxing icon Anissa “C18” Meksen for her first gold medal in November 2024. In addition to world championship glory, this also provides a chance for revenge.
Buntan’s dazzling combinations and speed will once again be matched up against Hemetsberger’s orchestrated offense. If their first encounter was anything to go by, this sequel promises no less – with a world championship gold medal and supremacy in both sports on the line, both women are expected to leave it all in the ring.
#2 Shadow and Carrillo meet for interim gold
Knockout forces collide in the ONE Fight Night 40 co-main event as Shadow Singha Mawynn takes on Nico “King of the North” Carrillo for the ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship.
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The moment marked the pinnacle of a remarkable journey for the Thai slugger, who has gone on an undefeated seven-fight run in the featherweight Muay Thai division since losing on his promotional debut in the heavyweight division.
This undefeated streak includes dominant performances and three spectacular wins over elite opponents, establishing the 25-year-old as one of the most exciting talents in the division. Most recently, the Bangkok native earned a $50,000 bonus with a devastating second-round TKO of Bampara Kouyate.
Now, he stands on the precipice of achieving his goal – capturing ONE Championship gold on a global stage and proving that poverty is no obstacle to anyone with big dreams. But across from him stood the “King of the North,” who was seeking to erase the heartbreak of a world title shot last January when he battled Algerian-Thai superstar Nabil Anane for the interim bantamweight crown.
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Rather than let this setback define him, Carrillo moved up to featherweight, where his signature knockout ability was on full display. The Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy standout continued his perfect 100% finish rate with the organization by completing back-to-back fights against multiple-time kickboxing world champion Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Luke Lessei.
Fans should be prepared for fireworks when two such incredible knockout artists meet for interim gold. A dream will come true. A redemption story will be written. The featherweight division will have a new interim king.
#3 Two BJJ world champion running backs
The unfinished business of 2021 will finally be settled when Fabricio “The Fire” Andre and Joao Pedro Bueno Mendes resume their featherweight submission grudge match at ONE Fight Night 40.
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For Andre, the rematch represents a chance to make a strong statement. The 25-year-old Brazilian has been flawless since joining ONE Championship, beating Eduardo Granzotto and Ashley Williams.
Both wins were impressive, but the Melqui Galvao product is eager to get his first highlight reel victory under the bright lights of ONE. However, he will be forced to work even harder against an equally dangerous Brazilian BJJ black belt.
Mendes is hungry for revenge and has the credentials to back up his confidence. Their first meeting took place at the quarter-final stage of the 2021 Pan American Championships, with Andre forcing the debuting star to take the floor via choke.
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That loss left a mark on Mendes, fueling years of evolution and refinement. Since that loss, the Brazilian has transformed into a more complete fighter, adding layers to his game. As evidenced by the 2025 IBJJF World Championships, where Mendes captured his first black belt world title.
Now, on the biggest platform in submission fighting, Mendes has a chance to even out their rivalry. However, “The Hokage” already knows what he needs to defeat his fellow Brazilian, and he hopes his world-class skills can help him achieve a raw 3-0 score in ONE.
#4 The Invincible Star Seeks Redemption
Four fighters return to the ring determined to bounce back from their first career losses, but only three will find redemption on February 13th.
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The most intriguing story occurred in the lightweight MMA division, where two former undefeated stars collided. Late last year, Adrian Lee and Shozo Isojima suffered their first mixed martial arts (MMA) losses to the same man, ONE welterweight submission wrestling world champion Tye Ruotolo. Unfortunately for them, only one was able to walk away with a bounce-back victory.
Elsewhere, Canadian knockout artist Ben “Vanilla Thunder” Tynan found himself in a similar situation. Tainan hopes to face Japanese slugger Ryugo Takeuchi, who also has a 100% finishing rate, in a heavyweight MMA contest.
Finally, Dagestan’s Magomed Akayev gets a chance at redemption after a tough promotional debut. The 29-year-old battled through three hard-fought rounds with fellow Russian Ibragim Dauev before eventually losing via split decision in a fight that could have gone either way.
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Standing in his way to victory is Lucas Gabriel, who remains undefeated in four appearances on the global stage. The Brazilian proved difficult to tackle and Akayev needed to be at his best to get back among the winners.
For these fighters, ONE Fight Night 40 represents more than just another fight. This is a chance to prove that their first defeat was just a temporary setback and not a permanent obstacle on their path to greatness.
#5 “The King” is back
One of the world’s largest martial arts organization’s most popular boxers, Danny “The King” Kingad, is back in business with an electric performance ahead of Valentine’s Day.
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The Lion Nation’s MMA representative will face China’s outstanding “Wolf Warrior” Hu Yong in a crucial flyweight MMA match, which has great significance for the ONE World Championship.
They were originally scheduled to face off at ONE Fight Night 15 in October 2023. When the Filipino withdrew due to a foot injury, Hu turned to face Eko Roni Saputra and scored a huge victory via TKO in 63 seconds.
However, this battle means more than just settling the affairs that The King has put off. The 30-year-old has long been at the center of world title talk. His well-rounded game, featuring dangerous submissions and world-class striking, makes him a perennial contender in one of the most talent-rich divisions in the sport.
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Kingard and Hu both return looking for a morale-boosting victory. The talented flyweights each come into this fight on a two-fight skid. A landslide win for either fighter could give them a chance to challenge reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “The Little Piranha” Wakamatsu.
Filipino fans will be watching closely as their hero attempts to reignite his championship dreams in the ring. That said, “The Wolf Warrior” doesn’t miss an opportunity to exploit his opponent’s weaknesses as he looks for his eighth career highlight reel.
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