Mark Abelardo To Face Unbeaten Newcomer Ibragim Dauev At ONE Fight Night 18

ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video will play host to an intriguing bantamweight MMA clash between a battle-hardened veteran and a young rising star.

On January 12 in U.S. primetime, Filipino-Kiwi fan favorite Mark “Tyson” Abelardo will battle promotional newcomer Ibragim Dauev at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

After 12 electrifying fights in the organization, the 32-year-old Abelardo has done plenty to establish himself as a respected name, renowned for his well-rounded skill set and seemingly endless gas tank.

The Fairtex Training Center representative will come into this contest riding a two-fight winning streak with back-to-back stoppages.

He knows that a third straight victory – especially another knockout – could land him a spot in the bantamweight MMA division’s top-five rankings and propel him closer to a shot at 26 pounds of gold.

However, he’s in for a tough test against Dauev.

The 22-year-old Dagestani has amassed an impressive 8-0 professional record on the ultra-competitive Russian regional circuit, earning seven of those victories via finish. Those performances, coupled with his raw natural talent, garnered the attention of ONE officials.

A dangerous submission expert with fight-ending power in his ground strikes, Dauev has the tools to make waves in ONE’s talent-laden bantamweight MMA division.

If he’s able to get past a proven competitor like Abelardo, the debutant will announce his presence on the global stage in a big way.

Simply put, fans won’t want to miss a second of this pivotal showdown, which has all the makings of a war.