Nong-O To Face Asadula Imangazaliev For The Vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title At ONE Friday Fights 147
A high-stakes World Title clash is set for ONE Friday Fights 147. Former long-time bantamweight Muay Thai king Nong-O Hama takes on undefeated Russian standout Asadula Imangazaliev for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
The explosive showdown takes place on March 20, live in Asia primetime, pitting a living legend and a young superstar against each other.
Nong-O spent years establishing himself as one of the most dominant World Champions in ONE Championship history.
After winning the inaugural ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title in 2019, he defended it a record seven times against top-flight opposition, blending sharp counters, clean combinations, and devastating finishing power.
His reign came to an end in a first-round knockout loss to Jonathan “The General” Haggerty in April 2023, and although he picked up another win at bantamweight a year later, the 39-year-old began reassessing his long-term path as the division grew bigger and more physical.
That’s when he decided to move to flyweight, which presented a fresh opportunity.
At 135 pounds, Nong-O could lean more heavily on his speed, balance, and timing. His debut in the division came at ONE Fight Night 28 against Kongthoranee Sor Sommai in a closely contested bout. Despite that fight ending in a split decision loss, his performance showed he could immediately compete with the division’s elite.
Three months later at ONE Fight Night 31, the Evolve MMA representative returned with clear adjustments and defeated Kongthoranee by unanimous decision, controlling the tempo and displaying sharper movement across three fast-paced rounds in their rematch.
That victory carried significance. It confirmed Nong-O was not simply testing himself in a new weight class. He had recalibrated, and he had earned his place among the top contenders.
The Thai icon was initially scheduled to challenge for the flyweight Muay Thai crown at ONE 173 in November last year. However, after his opponent was not medically cleared to compete following the weigh-in and hydration test, the bout was shelved.
Now, Nong-O finds himself standing opposite a young contender on a seemingly flawless trajectory.
Imangazaliev’s path has been fueled by momentum. After making waves with five wins – including four knockouts – on ONE Championship’s weekly Asia primetime spectacle, he secured a main roster contract at ONE Friday Fights 122 with a first-round head-kick knockout of seven-time Muay Thai World Champion “The Angel Warrior” Panpayak Jitmuangnon.
The finish instantly elevated the Team Mehdi Zatout product into serious contention.
He reinforced that status by stopping Kongthoranee in the second round at ONE Fight Night 39 this past January, extending his pristine record to 11-0, earning a US$50,000 performance bonus, and strengthening his claim for a World Title opportunity.
While Nong-O brings World Championship composure and years of elite experience, Imangazaliev arrives in this matchup with explosiveness, confidence, and an unblemished record.
With the flyweight Muay Thai belt vacant, ONE Friday Fights 147 will determine who gets to claim the division’s throne. Inside the hallowed ground of Lumpinee Stadium, a new king will be crowned.
