ONE Championship: “Such a hard time”

‘The Dagestan Ninja’ Asadula Imangazaliev delivered the best performance of his young and thriving career last Friday, and he made sure the people who helped him get there heard his gratitude.

The 22-year-old undefeated Russian dynamo produced a stunning second-round knockout of Muay Thai living legend Nong-O Hama in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 147, live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on March 20.

Speaking through a translator in his post-fight interview with ONE Championship, Asadula Imangazaliev wore his heart on his sleeve and sent a message to his close circle.

“Special thank you to my brothers here who were helping me prepare during such a hard time, during Ramadan. Thank you to my parents back home, and to everyone back home who’s been supporting me. Thank you,” the 22-year-old shared.

The Team Mehdi Zatout product moved to a perfect 12-0 in his career and took his ONE Championship slate to an immaculate 8-0 with the finish that was nothing short of breathtaking.

After a competitive opening round in which Nong-O found his rhythm with right body kicks, Imangazaliev ended it all in a matter of seconds in Round 2.

He read the Thai legend’s straight right to the body perfectly, stepped back, and unleashed a seamless left hook to the head, right hook to the body, left hook back to the head combination that put the eight-time ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion down before he even hit the canvas. The referee waved it off at just 44 seconds of the round.

Asadula Imangazaliev cements himself as the flyweight Muay Thai division’s most dangerous man

Asadula Imangazaliev’s victory inside the Mecca of Muay Thai in Bangkok, Thailand, last week was dominant, clinical, and historic.

It is worth noting that the 22-year-old star, unfortunately, couldn’t meet the hydration limit ahead of the event, which meant the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title remained vacant despite the result.

That storyline will be resolved another day, but, for now, the Dagestan warrior stands alone as the most feared striker in the division. Gold should arrive in a matter of time.