Reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Asadula “The Dagestan Ninja” Imangazaliev claimed the biggest victory of his career against Aslamjon “El Pantera” Ortikov. Now, the undefeated Russian wants to settle their rivalry in more emphatic fashion.
The 23-year-old will defend his crown against the #1-ranked contender in the main event of The Inner Circle 39 on Friday, November 20, live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The event will stream exclusively for members at live.onefc.com.
Their first encounter at The Inner Circle 20 in June produced an unforgettable five-round war between two previously undefeated phenoms. Imangazaliev emerged victorious by split decision, becoming Russia’s first ONE Muay Thai World Champion while handing the Uzbek his first professional defeat.
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But the razor-close verdict left plenty of room for debate, with both fighters believing they had done enough to prevail. Now, with the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title and a spot in the 2026-2027 ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix semifinals at stake, the divisional king is determined to demonstrate the difference between them.
Imangazaliev told onefc.com:
“I want to show how I can finish this guy, because it’s good that many people from Uzbekistan send messages supporting him. Of course, it’s no problem.
“But I want to show my level. I’m on another level.”
Photo Credit: ONE Championship
Before facing Ortikov, “The Dagestan Ninja” had finished seven of his first eight ONE Championship opponents, establishing himself as one of the organization’s most feared knockout artists.
Yet the Uzbek’s elusive movement and ability to survive dangerous exchanges presented a different kind of challenge. Having experienced that resistance firsthand, the champion wants his next performance to leave an unmistakable impression.
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He said:
“I need to dominate. That’s why I accepted this rematch. It’s important for me to win, of course, and protect my belt, but I always go for the knockout.”
The first meeting revealed just how evenly matched the two strikers could be. Ortikov constantly changed angles and found ways to disrupt his rival’s offense, while Imangazaliev pressed forward and answered with his unpredictable arsenal.
The Dagestani has since worked with his team to refine his approach, believing that the lessons learned across their initial 15-minute battle could make all the difference in the sequel.
Imangazaliev said:
“We changed our game plan a little bit and changed our training a little bit. But he’s also good. He’s fast and a little bit hard to catch. But I think I have the key to this.
“He’s also young. He has a little bit of the same style. He also moves so much, and he has good technique. That’s why it’s a hard fight. I need to relax a little bit more. I was too tight in the first fight. There are many small things that we need to fix for the second fight.”
Photo Credit: ONE Championship
Imangazaliev Reveals How He Fought Through A Broken Nose To Win Gold
Beyond the tactical battle, Asadula Imangazaliev’s first meeting with Ortikov tested his resilience in ways that were not fully apparent from the judges’ scorecards.
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During the third round, Ortikov landed a heavy punch that damaged his opponent’s nose. Imangazaliev has now revealed that he suffered a broken nose, adding another layer to the story of his historic World Title triumph.
The champion said:
“You know, when I go into a fight, I’m always ready for everything in my head: a broken nose, blood, a knockdown, everything.
“But when this happened, I didn’t think about stopping. I only went forward because I knew why I came here. I went forward, won the last round, and won the fight.”
The injury came at a crucial stage of an intensely competitive encounter, with neither fighter willing to surrender the momentum.
Ortikov continued to threaten with his speed and varied attacks, forcing Imangazaliev to remain composed through the championship rounds. Behind the scenes, his corner also had an important role in helping him navigate the ordeal.
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Imangazaliev said:
“My cornerman just didn’t want to show any panic. I stayed focused. I think this was good because, you know, during the fight, I didn’t understand how big or small the injury was. I could only see it after the fight.
“But during the fight, I couldn’t breathe. But no problem, I kept going.”
Photo Credit: ONE Championship
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
