This week's edition of ONE's subscription-based The Inner Circle featured high-level kickboxing action as Jonathan Di Bella made his return to the ring against longtime rival Zhang Peimian. The bout marked their first meeting in four years, following their clash for the inaugural ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title in 2022.
Both fighters showcased the improvements they have made over the years, starting the contest at a blistering pace. The champion initially got the better of his challenger, looking physically stronger and more imposing.
One major difference from their first encounter was Di Bella's use of calf kicks, which he landed cleanly and largely uncontested. He also found success with his trademark jab, check hook, and right straight, connecting seemingly at will.
Zhang did what he does best, apply relentless pressure, but through the opening two rounds, Di Bella largely had the answer. Just as it appeared the champion might pull away on the scorecards, Zhang's superior stamina began to shine through. He started investing heavily in body work, landing damaging shots that visibly affected Di Bella, who found himself spending more time backed up against the ropes as the fight progressed.
Stabbing teeps and hooks to the body gradually opened up opportunities upstairs. The momentum had completely shifted, and Di Bella suddenly found himself fighting to remain relevant in the contest. Even his usually reliable check hooks were being neutralized by the Chinese star, who convincingly claimed the third and fourth rounds.
Just like in their first meeting, the fifth and final round would prove decisive. And once again, it was Di Bella who rose to the occasion. Seemingly finding a second wind, the Italian-Canadian looked rejuvenated, snapping Peimian's head back with sharp counters. Rather than engaging in wild exchanges, he choose to counter his opponent's constant forward pressure, landing the cleaner and more effective shots as the fight drew to a close.
All three judges scored the bout 48-47 in favor of Di Bella. Despite being only 17 fights into his professional career, he continues to look like one of the most seasoned and versatile athletes in the sport. With his surging rival now behind him, Di Bella has turned his attention toward ONE's upcoming Japan events.
Confident in his abilities, Di Bella called for a Japanese opponent this fall, making it clear that he intends to stay active. With ONE Friday Fights continuously producing new strawweight contenders, finding a worthy challenger should not be difficult. Shoma Okumura, Koki Osaki, and Kojiro Shiba all appear to be viable options. Each remains undefeated in ONE Championship and has built a strong case through performances both inside and outside the promotion.
Another name to throw into the hat would be Haruto Yasumoto, who has looked stellar against champions from RISE, Shoot Boxing, and K-1. A matchup between him and Di Bella would go a long way toward determining who truly is the best fighter in the division.
YOZA VS. WOOLLISS
Yuki Yoza also returned earlier on the card, looking to bounce back from his title-fight loss to Jonathan Haggerty. Across from him stood British striker Ben Woolliss, who was also aiming to get back in the win column after his defeat to Petchtanong.
Woolliss got off to a decent start, but it quickly became the usual Yoza show. The Japanese star found success with his trademark calf kicks and body kicks, while occasionally letting his hands go to showcase his speed. Woolliss kept trying to work his way into the fight, but struggled to deal with Yoza's consistent offense.
In the third and final round, Yoza put the finishing touch on his performance, dropping Woolliss with a wild check hook. The knockdown sealed the victory and capped off another strong showing back into the title picture.
