Singapore’s own Amir Khan is on the verge of kicking off his new year in ONE Championship.

The Evolve MMA product returns to action against ONE Warrior Series standout Kimihiro Eto at ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE on Friday, 28 February.

But before the hard-hitting 25-year-old competes against the Japanese dynamo at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, we look at who Khan could face later in 2020 as he vies for a spot among the elite contenders of the lightweight division.

A Potential Banger With Lowen Tynanes

The conclusion of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix last October unearthed several contenders Khan could face this year.

Lowen Tynanes is one of them.

The American previously emerged as a legitimate threat in the division after besting a number of premier lightweights, including Koji “The Commander” Ando and Eduard “Landslide” Folayang.

Tynanes may be the most well-rounded opponent Khan could ever face.

He has earned four of his ten wins by submission, and more recently, he dispatched Honorio “The Rock” Banario with a fearsome ground and pound TKO in the Grand Prix quarterfinals.

Khan, who shares a penchant for knockouts, would not shy away from a shootout with Tynanes.

Should he decide to bring the contest to the ground, it may be Khan’s best chance to show his evolution as a mixed martial artist and prove his grappling should be respected.

With his impressive grappling and striking resume, the man from Hawaii might just be the big name Khan needs to defeat to climb back up the division.

A Singaporean Showdown With Rahul Raju

After recording two straight submission finishes to end 2019, both of which took place in “The Lion City,” Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju has broken into contention in the lightweight rotation.

As shown by his wins, Raju’s ground game has evolved to complement his already potent striking. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt loves to wrestle and wear down his opponents, which will be a stern test for even Khan.

With plenty of size and a dangerous BJJ skill set, Raju might be the perfect foil to Khan’s power and striking.

Furthermore, the Juggernaut Fight Club athlete has always enjoyed strong support from his loyal fan base in Singapore.

A showdown between the local hero and Singapore’s adopted son would be an intriguing match-up that paves the way for either man to move up the divisional rankings.

An Overdue Appointment With Iurie Lapicus

Iurie Lapicus and Khan were originally scheduled to meet at ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON last May.

Following Khan’s insertion back into the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix, the Italian sensation instead made his promotional debut against Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai.

The Team Petrosyan product forced the Thai veteran to tap out with a rear-naked choke – his ninth career submission. Under the watchful eye of kickboxing legend Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan, Lapicus has all the makings of a star.

Although just a year younger and less experienced, Lapicus’ undefeated record of 13 career victories stacks up against Khan’s 12 wins.

Having failed to make good on a promise to showcase his striking against Ting last November at ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS, Khan would definitely welcome an opportunity to make amends and put away a younger star on the rise with a knockout win.

Check out The Home Of Martial Arts next event ONE: FIRE & FURY, which goes down on 31 January at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Download the ONE Super App to catch all the action live and for free.

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