3 Of Avazbek Kholmirzaev’s Most Dangerous Weapons Against Yuya Wakamatsu At ONE SAMURAI 1
Avazbek “Ninzya” Kholmirzaev has been a relentless finishing machine since his arrival in ONE Championship.
Now, the rising Uzbek star prepares for the biggest opportunity of his professional career.
The 25-year-old phenom will challenge reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu for the divisional crown at ONE SAMURAI 1, which broadcasts live from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, April 29.
“Ninzya” acts as an unpredictable threat, seamlessly blending dynamic striking with high-level submission grappling.
Kholmirzaev, who made a name for himself at the unforgiving proving grounds of ONE Friday Fights, has compiled a stellar 15-2 professional record thus far. This impressive run includes six submission victories and eight wins via knockout, proving he can end a fight on the feet or on the canvas.
Before he heads to Tokyo for his ONE Flyweight MMA World Title clash, we break down three distinct weapons that make Kholmirzaev such a dangerous opponent in the ring.
#1 A Lethal Submission Arsenal
With five victories via submission in the world’s largest martial arts organization, Kholmirzaev has proven that taking the fight to the mat against him is a critical error for his opponents.
While many strikers struggle when the action hits the canvas, the Uzbek athlete actively thrives in the grappling exchanges.
He utilizes heavy top pressure to break his opponent’s posture, constantly hunting for limbs and chokes during scrambles.
Kholmirzaev kick-started his ONE Championship campaign in 2024 with a pair of quick, clinical first-round submission finishes over Leandro Gomes and Changy Kara-Ool. These early performances put the flyweight MMA division on notice regarding his ground game.
More recently, he showcased his continued grappling evolution at ONE Fight Night 37 last November. Facing off against previously undefeated Willie “White Lion” van Rooyen, he locked in a slick armbar to hand the South African his first career defeat.
If Wakamatsu leaves even the slightest opening during a grappling exchange, the Uzbek phenom possesses the necessary instincts to snatch a fight-ending submission almost instantly.
#2 An Unpredictable Spinning Back Kick
While Kholmirzaev utilizes a highly explosive kicking game featuring front kicks upstairs, heavy roundhouses to the body, and sharp knees in the clinch, his spinning back kick stands out as his most dangerous standalone strike.
“Ninzya” fires the technique with zero telegraphing, generating immense rotational torque in a fraction of a second.
Because he often uses his footwork to disguise setups, opponents struggle to read the incoming attack until it is too late.
Kholmirzaev put this weapon on full display during his grueling three-round war against Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada at ONE Friday Fights 116 last July.
Wada is widely respected for his tight defense and high fight IQ, yet Kholmirzaev repeatedly found a home for the spinning back kick. By frequently targeting the midsection, he successfully drained the Japanese veteran’s gas tank and disrupted his forward momentum, paving the way for a commanding unanimous decision victory.
Failing to anticipate his full kicking arsenal often results in instant, fight-ending damage, making it a tool Wakamatsu must respect from the outside.
#3 Slicing Elbow Combinations
Elbows serve as some of the most devastating and bout-altering tools in mixed martial arts, and “Ninzya” deploys them to great effect whenever the action moves into close quarters.
Rather than simply using them as single strikes to separate from the clinch, he shows zero hesitation in doubling or even tripling up his elbow combinations.
He understands exactly how to manipulate an opponent’s guard, framing off their collarbone or biceps to create the necessary space to land slicing shots to the forehead and brow.
The Uzbek destroyer utilized this exact strategy to break down Robson de Oliveira at ONE Friday Fights 107 in May 2025. Throughout the tilt, Kholmirzaev systematically sliced through the Brazilian’s guard with his potent striking repertoire to secure a decisive second-round TKO victory.
Whether he initiates the clinch against the ropes or gains dominant top control on the canvas, he throws his elbows with ruthless intentions. This ensures he remains a threat in every area of the game.
Kholmirzaev’s complete mastery of these three tools – his lethal submissions, unpredictable kicks, and slicing elbows – makes him a nightmare matchup for anyone.
“Ninzya” brings a level of versatility that forces his opponents to remain defensive in every single phase of the fight.
Kholmirzaev will need every piece of that evolved arsenal firing on all cylinders when he attempts to dethrone a proven finisher like Wakamatsu.
If he can properly execute his game plan and utilize these show-stopping weapons, the Uzbek star has a very real chance to capture the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship and silence the Tokyo crowd at ONE SAMURAI 1.
