Abdulaev Marks Debut With Record-Setting Submission Of Kadestam

Russian welterweight Gadzhimurad Abdulaev announced his arrival to ONE Championship by finishing the previous divisional king in record-breaking time.

Abdulaev used a face crank to submit former ONE Welterweight World Champion Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam in the first round of their clash at ONE: UNBREAKABLE from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 22 January.

After a brief feeling-out process in the opening moments of the bout, the Russian Mixed Martial Arts Champion made his move. He shot in for a takedown when Kadestam launched a low kick, and then, during a scramble, he seamlessly transitioned to his opponent’s back.

Showing the grappling prowess that martial arts fans expected to witness, the Team Wildhearts representative quickly secured a body triangle, trapping the usually explosive Kadestam in the clutches of his legs and slowly squeezing the breath out of him.

The Swede lowered his chin to his chest in an effort to avoid the impending rear-naked choke, but that only delayed the inevitable.

Abdulaev softened up his opponent with short punches from behind while continuing to squeeze the former welterweight king deeper into the body triangle.

With Kadestam unable to escape, the Russian attempted a rear-naked choke, but with “The Bandit’s” tight defense, Abdulaev opted to wrench down on his rival’s face instead. That forced the Swedish hard-hitter to tap out at the 2:08 mark of the first round.

It was a big win for the 24-year-old, who not only improved his record to 6-0, but also scored the fastest submission in the history of ONE’s welterweight division.

“I’m very happy [with the win]. I’m ready for a title fight after this,” he said during his post-bout interview. “I said I was the best in the grappling game, and I did it.”

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