Knockout Machine: How Russian MMA Phenom Abdulla Dayakaev Earned His ONE Championship Contract
Abdulla Dayakaev looks poised to take ONE’s talent-laden bantamweight Muay Thai division by storm.
The 23-year-old Russian striker will soon make his hotly anticipated U.S. primetime debut on May 2 at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II on Prime Video when he goes toe-to-toe with decorated Thai veteran Saemapetch Fairtex.
That contest will take place at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium — the same venue where Dayakaev battled his way through a murderers’ row of opponents at the ONE Friday Fights event series to secure his spot on the organization’s global roster.
Before he introduces himself to the U.S. primetime audience at ONE Fight Night 31, we look back at four unforgettable knockouts that highlighted this young talent’s rise to the big show.
Makes A Statement Against Cerkez
After picking up a majority decision victory in his promotional debut, Dayakaev returned in January 2024 at ONE Friday Fights 49 and scored a much more emphatic win.
Taking on battle-hardened veteran Sevket Cerkez, the Russian displayed his shocking speed and well-rounded striking game en route to a second-round knockout.
Dayakaev first sent Cerkez to the canvas with a vicious right elbow as the Turkish fighter came rushing in. Sensing that his foe was wilting, he poured on the aggression and blitzed Cerkez with a flurry of punches, punctuated by a clean left hand that finished the contest midway through the round.
With the victory, Dayakaev erased any doubts that he owns the show-stopping power to compete among the best of the best in ONE.
Flatlines Ongbak
The young Russian’s next knockout came at ONE Friday Fights 71 against Thai hero Ongbak Fairtex – and it was one to remember.
The first couple minutes were a frantic firefight, with each man landing big strikes at range. In the final third of the first round, though, Dayakaev unleashed a thunderous punching combination to put Ongbak on the canvas.
While the Thai would gamely return to his feet, Dayakaev smelled blood in the water. Once again, he pressed forward with an onslaught of punches before ultimately landing a massive fight-ending right hand that left the Bangkok crowd stunned.
Makes Quick Work Of Sibmuen
In December 2024 at ONE Friday Fights 92, Dayakaev took on his toughest test yet when he squared off against two-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Sibmuen. Apparently, Dayakaev didn’t get the memo that he should be afraid of his decorated adversary.
The Team Mehdi Zatout sensation took the center of the ring early, and after just 30 seconds of action, he landed a terrifying left hook, sending Simbuen dazed and stumbling around the ring, unable to continue.
In a fight that many predicted to derail Dayakaev’s hype train, he hardly broke a sweat and announced himself as one of Muay Thai’s fastest-rising contenders.
Starches Malatesta
In his most recent appearance, the young phenom celebrated his 23rd birthday with a jaw-dropping knockout of Italy’s Alessio Malatesta that earned him a six-figure contract and a spot on ONE’s global roster.
The fighters traded blows at a torrid pace early, but before long, it became apparent that Dayakaev simply packed more power than his opponent.
In a savage display of aggression, the Russian hammered away with combination after combination before finding a home for a soul-stealing body shot that crumbled Malatesta late in the first frame.
That win cemented Dayakaev as a world-class striker, secured his spot in ONE Championship, and set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling career in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
