If you’re sitting on the couch wondering what mma fights are on tonight, you’ve basically got one major destination, but it’s a weirdly specific one if you're used to the usual Saturday night UFC grind. Tonight, Friday, January 16, 2026, the spotlight is firmly on Bangkok.
While the UFC is currently in its short "calm before the storm" phase—getting ready for that massive Gaethje vs. Pimblett card next weekend—ONE Championship is picking up the slack. They’re running ONE Friday Fights 138 live from the Lumpinee Stadium.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. You aren't getting a cage full of pure MMA from top to bottom. That's just how ONE rolls. It’s a hybrid card with Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and some very high-stakes bantamweight and lightweight MMA bouts sprinkled in.
The Breakdown Of ONE Friday Fights 138
The main event isn't MMA. It's a flyweight Muay Thai war between Pompet PongSuphan PK and Decho Por Borirak. But don't let the "Muay Thai" label fool you; if you're a fan of 4-ounce gloves and high-level violence, this hits the same spot. Pompet is coming off a massive second-round stoppage of Gregor Thom. He’s got 109 career wins. That is a stupidly high number of fights for a 27-year-old.
Where’s The MMA?
If you're strictly here for the grappling and the ground-and-pound, you’ll want to keep an eye on the middle of the card.
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Argentina’s Lucas Ganin is taking on Ilyas Eziyeu in a bantamweight MMA scrap. This is one of those classic "scouts' favorite" fights. Ganin is trying to prove he belongs on the global roster, while Eziyeu—hailing from Belarus—brings that relentless Eastern European pressure that usually gives technical strikers fits.
Further down, we have Akhmed Rabadanov versus Arshia Ebadi in the lightweight division. Rabadanov is a name people have been whispering about in the regional circuits for a while. Seeing him under the bright lights of Lumpinee tonight will tell us a lot about whether he's a real contender or just a guy with a padded record.
Full Schedule For Tonight (Jan 16)
The timing is always the tricky part with these Bangkok shows. Since it’s Asia Primetime, if you're in the States, you’re either staying up late or waking up very early.
- Event: ONE Friday Fights 138
- Time: 7:30 PM ICT (Bangkok Time) / 7:30 AM ET / 4:30 AM PT
- Location: Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
- MMA Highlight 1: Lucas Ganin vs. Ilyas Eziyeu (Bantamweight)
- MMA Highlight 2: Akhmed Rabadanov vs. Arshia Ebadi (Lightweight)
Why There’s No UFC Action Right Now
A lot of people are asking "what mma fights are on tonight" and expecting to see Dana White’s name somewhere. But the UFC is taking a breather. They just announced that Mohammed Usman—Kamaru’s brother—got slapped with a 30-month suspension for testosterone use today, which has been the biggest "fight" news coming out of Vegas this morning.
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The UFC is moving its broadcast to Paramount+ this year, and their next big show isn't until January 24th for UFC 324. It’s basically the off-week before the season really kicks into overdrive.
What Most People Get Wrong About Friday Night Cards
People tend to ignore the Friday morning/afternoon ONE shows because they aren't "numbered" events. Big mistake.
These guys are fighting for a $100,000 contract. In the world of Muay Thai and developing MMA, that is life-changing money. You often see more desperation and raw aggression in these fights than you do in a co-main event of a tired UFC Apex card.
The MMA bouts tonight are particularly interesting because ONE’s bantamweight division is becoming a shark tank. Ganin and Eziyeu are basically auditioning for a spot on the main Prime Video cards.
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How To Watch Tonight’s Action
If you're trying to catch the MMA fights on tonight, you’ve actually got it pretty easy compared to the old days of sketchy pirated streams.
- ONE Championship App: They usually stream the Friday Fights series for free or via a small subscription depending on your region.
- YouTube: The ONE Championship YouTube channel typically broadcasts the first half of these cards (the "lead card") live and for free.
- Local Broadcasts: In many regions, the full 14-fight card is available on local sports networks like beIN Sports.
Actionable Next Steps For Fight Fans
Don't just wait for the UFC. If you want to actually get ahead of the curve and see who the next big stars are, do this:
- Check the ONE YouTube channel around 7:30 AM ET. Even if you only catch the bantamweight MMA bout, it’s worth seeing how Ganin handles the pressure of the ring.
- Set your notifications for UFC 324. Since there's no UFC tonight, use the downtime to make sure your Paramount+ sub is active, because that's where the Gaethje vs. Pimblett chaos is happening next week.
- Keep an eye on the results for Rabadanov. If he finishes Ebadi tonight, he’s likely headed for a major step up in competition by the summer.
MMA isn't just a Saturday night thing anymore. Tonight is proof that if you’re willing to look toward Thailand, there’s always someone getting punched in the face for our entertainment.