‘He’s Not The Final Boss’ – Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu Readies ‘Secret’ Game Plan For Elbek Alyshov At The Inner Circle 24

Confidence is certainly not in short supply for reigning ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion “The Tormentor” Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu, and an undefeated challenger is not about to change that heading into the main event of The Inner Circle 24.

The Mongolian sports hero puts that supreme conviction to the ultimate test in his first World Title defense against Azerbaijani-Russian standout Elbek Alyshov this Friday, July 31, inside Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium. The high-stakes card will broadcast live in Asia primetime, exclusively available to subscribers at live.onefc.com.

The 37-year-old titleholder holds a healthy respect for the elite judo credentials Alyshov brings into this collision, largely because they share dangerous common ground in the form of two past opponents. Both men have already stepped into the ring against Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw and Carlo “The Bull” Bumina-ang, and those outcomes offer a highly useful, if slightly uncomfortable point of comparison heading into their clash for the gold.

Baatarkhuu does not shy away from what those specific results suggest about the man with an unblemished 10-0 slate standing across from him.

He said:

“He finished Pacatiw and Bumina-ang, whom I have faced before. I fought to the third round with both of them. He got quicker finishes, so I assume that he is quite stronger and he might even be better than me, based on the results of those fights.”

This honest admission, however, is not “The Tormentor” simply selling himself short. The results may point to exactly how efficient the undefeated Alyshov can be on the canvas, but the reigning champion’s own submission game has proven every bit as dangerous.

The Team Tungaa and Shandas MMA representative has actively relied on his crushing grip to secure six tapout victories, most recently using it to finish Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade via rear-naked choke to claim the divisional belt.

That vice-like hold was certainly not built inside a comfortable gym. Baatarkhuu spent his teenage years relentlessly mining with his bare hands before a grueling year spent felling trees with equally primitive tools. His functional strength was forged in the harshest working conditions imaginable, well before it ever earned him 26 pounds of ONE gold.

He even put that exact same crushing power on full display far from the global stage, anchoring Team Mongolia to a massive victory in the grueling stone-totem endurance challenge during his celebrated run on Netflix’s hit series Physical: Asia.

That terrifying grip, and the submission threat it naturally carries, now shifts toward a vastly different kind of tactical preparation. Where Baatarkhuu focused heavily on his striking ahead of his World Title challenge at ONE Fight Night 38 last December, this camp has demanded the exact opposite emphasis to neutralize a committed grappler like Alyshov.

Style or discipline aside, the Mongolian warrior insists absolutely none of it changes how he approaches his first true test as the divisional king.

The 37-year-old added:

“Every opponent I have faced, and every opponent I will face in the future, is unique in their own style and way. I don’t really have a preference. But what I can tell is that I’m ready to face whoever ONE Championship puts in front of me.

“During my fight with Fabricio, I was a little bit mindful about his striking. This time, my opponent is a grappler. In terms of the actual training routine, it’s the same for me every day. But because he is more of a grappler, we changed things a little bit. I’ll keep that a secret, and I’m ready to reveal it in the ring.”

Weaknesses Noted, Not Named

Confident as he sounds heading into fight week, Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu is absolutely not dismissing Elbek Alyshov as a mere formality.

The ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion has clearly done his homework ahead of The Inner Circle 24, and while he is quick to credit his opponent’s elite skill set, he is far less willing to spell out exactly where the challenger might be physically vulnerable.

Every fighter who has ever stepped inside the ring carries a fundamental flaw somewhere in their game, and Baatarkhuu firmly believes he has already located Alyshov’s.

“The Tormentor” said:

“Elbek Alyshov is obviously a strong opponent. But of course, he has some weaknesses as well. I have noticed it. Every fighter, even World Champions, has weaknesses.

“But I can’t reveal that now because he might work on it. I will find that weak spot and use it against him.”

That guarded confidence directly extends to how the Mongolian superstar views the bigger picture of his own career.

An unbeaten record and a fearsome reputation built on judo finishes clearly command respect from the reigning king, but they do not rattle him in the slightest. Alyshov, in his eyes, is simply the latest name on a list that will only keep growing the longer his historic reign continues.

Baatarkhuu shared:

“He’s not the final boss. I’m going to face even stronger opponents in the future. This is just what I do every day.

“But I admit, my opponent offers me a new style to figure out. I have never faced an opponent of his skill before.”