| ONE 168: Denver | |
| Promotion: | ONE Championship |
| Venue: | Ball Arena |
| City: | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Followingevent: | ONE Friday Fights 79: Kongchai vs. Abdulmuslimov |
ONE 168: Denver was a combat sport event produced by ONE Championship that took place on September 6, 2024, at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, United States.[1] [2]
The event marked the promotion's second visit to the United States and second in Colorado, since ONE Fight Night 10, which took place in Broomfield in May 2023.[3] [4]
A ONE Women's Strawweight World Championship bout between current champion Xiong Jing Nan and the ONE Women's Atomweight Champion (also ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix winner, former ONE Women's Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion) Stamp Fairtex was expected to headline the event.[5] However on May 21, it was announced that Stamp was forced to withdraw due to serious knee injury.[6]
A ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship bout between current champion (also the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing Champion and former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai Champion) Jonathan Haggerty and the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing Champion Superlek Kiatmuu9 served as the new main event.[7] The pairing previously met at Yokkao 31 in October 2018, which Superlek won by TKO in second round.[8]
A ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship bout between current champion (also 2022 ADCC World Champion) Kade Ruotolo and Mikey Musumeci was expected to take place at the event.[9] However, on September 1, it was announced that Ruotolo had withdrawn from the bout due to injury.[10] Musumeci now was expected to face Bebeto Oliveira in a flyweight title instead.[11] At the weigh-ins, Musumeci came in at 142 lb, 6 pounds over the flyweight limit for a title fight. As a result, Musumeci was stripped of the title and only Oliveira was eligible to win it.[12] In turn, the bout was cancelled when Musumeci has elected not to fight despite being offered an openweight as well.[13]
A lightweight bout between Maurice Abévi and Samat Mamedov was removed from the event after Mamedov pulled out with a broken arm during the weigh-ins.[14]
At the weigh-ins, the bout between Aung La Nsang and Shamil Erdogan moved to 213.75 lb after the pairing missed weight and hydration in the designated time window. Josue Cruz missed weight (142 lb) and was fined 30% of his purse to Johan Ghazali, Ghazali has also re-weighed in at 141.5 lb.[15]
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[17]