‘Knock Him Out’ – Anar Mammadov Planning Quick Finish Of Tomyamkoong At The Inner Circle 18
Some fighters return from defeat with their confidence shaken. Azerbaijani striker Anar “Atilla” Mammadov returns with his hunger sharpened.
He steps back into action against Tomyamkoong Bhumjaithai in a flyweight Muay Thai main event at The Inner Circle 18 on Friday, June 12, inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium. The Asia primetime card streams live exclusively for subscribers at live.onefc.com.
He announced his arrival on the global stage with a thunderous knockout of battle-tested veteran Komawut FA Group at ONE Friday Fights 128 last October.
However, his sophomore outing against Yodlekpet “The Destroyer” Or Atchariya ended in defeat. That said, it also served as a lesson that he has since absorbed, studied, and built upon in the gym.
Mammadov shared:
“Although I lost, I must say it was a great fight against Yodlekpet. It was such an experience. It was a very tough match. But I’m ready for a new challenge.”
That new challenge arrives in the form of a warrior who has completely transformed his promotional fortunes after dropping his first two ONE appearances.
Mammadov’s 22-year-old PK Saenchai Muaythaigym opponent has since won three on the trot – two of them finishes – while building a reputation as one of the most dangerous pressure fighters in the division. The Thai is also confident that another highlight-reel moment could be in the offing.
Mammadov has done his homework, and he is under no illusions about what Friday night holds in store:
“He has really good footwork, he has good knees, and he’s very solid in the clinch. But that’s why I’ve prepared a program with my coach. I hope it’s going to work out.
“For example, my boxing is good. Some are also saying that I’m old and he’s young, and they think I’m going to get tired [easily]. But I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
As such, the Azerbaijani arrives in the Thai capital not to contain his foe’s threat but to overwhelm it.
With 12 career victories behind him and the knockout credibility to back it up, the Team Mehdi Zatout athlete believes he can beat his man in close quarters and wrap things up early in Bangkok.
Mammadov made his intentions clear:
“I know that it’s going to be hard to beat him in the clinch. But, actually, if he tries to get close to me and clinch, I’m going to punch him.
“I’m going to beat him. If I’m able to land good shots, I might even knock him out.”
Fired Up And In Peak Form
Anar Mammadov’s confidence is neither fabricated nor manufactured. It is backed by a preparation camp that has left the Azerbaijani striker feeling every bit as dangerous as the occasion demands.
The period between the Yodlekpet defeat and Friday night has not been wasted. Rather than dwell on the loss, the 30-year-old returned to the people who matter most and came back to training with clarity and physical sharpness.
He continued:
“Since my last fight, I went back to Azerbaijan and spent time with my family. I’ve spent some time at the beaches after training in Thailand.
“Both physically and mentally, I’m at the highest level [heading into this fight]. I’m in the best shape right now.”
A win over Tomyamkoong would do more than move Mammadov one step closer to that US$100,000 main roster contract. It would also reopen a door he has not stopped thinking about since it closed.
“Atilla” has unfinished business with Yodlekpet — a fighter he believes he was handling before a single knockdown shifted the judges’ scorecards against him.
The rematch remains firmly in his sights, and a statement performance at The Inner Circle 18 would make it impossible to ignore.
Mammadov concluded:
“If ONE Championship is okay with [a rematch], I want that rematch. I think that match was very close. I was dominating the fight until the knockdown.”
