‘I Will Be Hunting Him Every Second’ – Asadula Imangazaliev Ready To Make History Against Nong-O At ONE Friday Fights 147
Asadula “The Dagestan Ninja” Imangazaliev stands on the brink of history.
The 22-year-old Russian knockout artist challenges Muay Thai living legend Nong-O Hama for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 147 on March 20.
The title clash airs live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
The Dagestani fighter, who represents Team Mehdi Zatout, brings a pristine 11-0 career record with a perfect 7-0 promotional mark featuring six jaw-dropping finishes. The rangy, unorthodox, and unpredictable knockout artist has demolished opponents with body shots, head kicks, and spinning attacks, establishing himself as one of the sport’s most dangerous finishers.
Since making his ONE Friday Fights debut in 2024, the 5-foot-11 Imangazaliev earned a six-figure main roster contract through spectacular performances. Now he faces the ultimate test against one of Muay Thai’s all-time greats.
For Imangazaliev, this opportunity represents the culmination of childhood dreams and the chance to etch his name into combat sports history:
“From the very beginning of my career, I’ve always wanted to fight opponents like him, because these are the kinds of fights that make you known.
“For me, this is an opportunity to announce myself and put my name in the history of Russian Muay Thai by becoming the first Russian ONE [World] Champion in Muay Thai.”
That historic significance cannot be overstated. While Russia has produced world-class kickboxers and MMA fighters, no Russian has captured ONE flyweight Muay Thai gold. A victory would open doors for an entire nation’s fighters and validate his status as a trailblazer.
Standing across from him is the 39-year-old Nong-O, a former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion who brings a staggering 267-58 career record with a 12-4 promotional mark. After ruling the bantamweight division for years, the Thai legend now has a chance to become a two-division ONE World Champion.
Imangazaliev’s preparation for this moment began long before the fight was announced, dating back to his childhood when he first watched Nong-O compete.
He said:
“I watched his fights when I was still a kid. Even back then, when I was watching fighters at such a high level, I always tried to imagine how I could beat them one day. Now that I’m older, I have the opportunity to show my style to the whole world and prove that I can become the best fighter in the world.”
Imangazaliev has studied the performances of legends like Nong-O while mentally preparing for the day he would face such world-class competition.
Despite his respect for the Thai legend’s accomplishments, sentiment ends when the bell rings and gold is on the line.
“The Dagestan Ninja” said:
“In this fight, I want to show that I’m on a different level and that I deserve to be the champion. I respect him as a fighter and as a legend, but once the fight starts, I will be hunting him every second.”
Imangazaliev’s Unorthodox Style Poses Unique Challenge For Legend
Asadula Imangazaliev believes his fighting style creates problems that even legendary fighters struggle to solve.
His constant movement, shifting angles, and unpredictable strikes have proven impossible for previous opponents to handle. That unorthodox approach, combined with knockout power from multiple positions, creates constant danger that demands split-second defensive adjustments.
Imangazaliev detailed what makes his style so difficult to prepare for:
“My style is a problem for any fighter. I’m constantly moving, using different angles and unpredictable strikes, which makes it very difficult for my opponents to adapt to me.
“I’m fully focused on this fight, and I believe I will win. Now I just need to show the whole world who I am. I will be going for the knockout every second of the fight.”
Victory on Friday would fulfill Imangazaliev’s childhood dream of becoming a ONE World Champion, make him the first Russian titleholder in Muay Thai, and validate his unorthodox approach against one of the sport’s all-time greats.
That convergence of personal, national, and professional significance gives him every reason to deliver the performance of his career.
Imangazaliev said:
“It will be a very important moment for my story and my career. And of course, it will be something special because I will become a ONE [World] Champion — it has been my childhood dream.”
