ONE 173 Picks Of The Week For Exciting Nov. 16 Show

Set to put on a blockbuster show at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, ONE 173 brings a host of splendid top-level mixed martial arts bouts. In the highest billed MMA bout on the card at ONE 173, flyweight champion Yuya Wakamatsu attempts to defend his strap for the first time opposite Joshua Pacio. Before that, current lightweight and welterweight king Christian Lee battles Alibeg Rasulov for the lightweight crown.  

ONE 173: ONE Flyweight MMA Championship

Entering the prime of his career at 30 years of age, Wakamatsu is coming off of a monumental knockout performance over ONE royalty Adriano Moraes, starching the Brazilian in the first round. Stepping up to retain his title on one of the biggest martial arts cards of the year, “Little Piranha” currently is riding a four-fight winning streak heading into ONE 173. 

Notching the first defense of his strawweight throne over UFC veteran Jarred Brooks in his last contest, Pacio now seeks to add another belt to his trophy case when he returns to the 135-lb division after an eight-year leave for a superfight with the streaking Wakamatsu in ONE 173.

Image Courtesy of ONE Championship.

  

ONE 173: ONE Lightweight MMA Championship

Losing just once over the last half decade (eventually avenging that lone defeat by stoppage), Lee stands as budding star under the ONE Championship banner heading into ONE 173. Holding both the 155-lb and 170-lb thrones, “The Warrior” has ended seven of his past eight victories by knockout.  

Undefeated as a professional, Rasulov has rarely encountered any meaningful resistance in his fights, ending ten of his 14 wins inside the distance. Meeting up with Lee last December, the pair’s first tilt was marred with controversy after an accidental eye poke rendered Rasulov unable to continue, with that bout ending in a no contest. Eager to get back into the ring, the Dagestan native is looking to cement his place as the apex lightweight name in the organization with an emphatic performance over the incumbent.    

More Bouts On the Main Card

Other MMA fights on the ONE 173 main card include Shozo Isojima taking on ONE submission standout Tye Ruotolo, Ryugo Takeuchi locking horns with Shamil Erdogan, Japanese marquee name Shinya Aoki facing off with Hiroyuki Tetsuka and Itsuki Hirata tangoing with Chihiro Sawada.

ONE 173 Predictions and Staff Picks

MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL), ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).

• UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
• PFL picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
• ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.

The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2025 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. 

Find our ONE 173 picks and fight odds below. 

Staff records after UFC Vegas 111: 

1. Hank Strandberg: 189-109
2. Frazer Krohn: 152-108
3. Drew Zuhosky: 151-145
4. Jeremy Brand: 135-92
5. Andrew Benjamin: 32-90

                                     *Note – not all staff pick for every event*

 

Chihiro Sawada -300

Vs.

Itsuki Hirata +200

    WOMEN’S ATOMWEIGHT 

 

Jeremy Brand: 
Hank Strandberg: Sawada by Unanimous Decision                                                  
Drew Zuhosky: Sawada by First Round Knockout                                                   
Frazer Krohn: Sawada by Unanimous Decision   

Staff picking Sawada: 3

Staff picking Hirata: 0

Hiroyuki Tetsuka -105    

Vs.

Shinya Aoki -135

         LIGHTWEIGHT

 

Jeremy Brand: 
Hank Strandberg: Aoki by First Round Submission  
Drew Zuhosky: Aoki by Unanimous Decision                                                         Frazer Krohn: Aoki by Second Round Submission

Staff picking Tetsuka: 0

Staff picking Aoki: 3

Shamil Erdogan -2000

Vs.

Ryugo Takeuchi +1000 

HEAVYWEIGHT

           

Jeremy Brand: 
Hank Strandberg: Erdogan by First Round Knockout                                                     Drew Zuhosky: Takeuchi by First Round Knockout                                                  
Frazer Krohn: Takeuchi by Unanimous Decision   

Staff picking Akhmedov: 1

Staff picking Takeuchi: 2

Tye Ruotolo -1800

Vs.

Shozo Isojima +900

           LIGHTWEIGHT

 

Jeremy Brand: 
Hank Strandberg: Ruotolo by First Round Submission                                                    
Drew Zuhosky: Ruotolo by Unanimous Decision                                                   
Frazer Krohn: Ruotolo by First Round Submission     

Staff picking Ruotolo: 3

Staff picking Isojima: 0   

Aibek Rasulov -100

Vs.

Christian Lee +140 

             LIGHTWEIGHT

  

Jeremy Brand: 
Hank Strandberg: Lee by Unanimous Decision                                                 
Drew Zuhosky: Lee by First Round Submission                                                  
Frazer Krohn: Lee by Unanimous Decision    

Staff picking Rasulov: 0 

Staff picking Lee: 3   

Yuya Wakamatsu -240

     Vs.

Joshua Pacio +165

        FLYWEIGHT

 

Jeremy Brand:
Hank Strandberg: Wakamatsu by Unanimous Decision                                              
Drew Zuhosky: Pacio by Unanimous Decision   
Frazer Krohn: Pacio by Third Round Knockout                                                                

 

Staff picking Wakamatsu: 1

Staff picking Pacio: 2