I like the first one best too. However, I'm not keen on all the centers of the nine-patches being the same color. It turns the single Irish Chain into more of a nine-patch.
I also think a single Irish Chain works better when the background fabric in the large squares and the background fabric of the nine-patches are the same fabric. The second photo is like this, but the fabric print is too different in feel from the batik chains to be effective, and also does not offer enough contrast to be effective.
I would take some nine-patches to the store and lay them against several different background fabrics to find a better color combo. For example, I'd try the nine-patches against various batik creams and tans, or perhaps a bright steel gray, and plan to make both the large background squares and the nine-patch background squares that fabric. Also, I would keep the chains random. Random bright colors against a batik neutral would look fab, in my opinion.