Shamil Gasanov Prepared For Anything Against ‘Formidable Opponent’ Aaron Canarte
Russian powerhouse Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov is hoping to continue his climb toward the top of the talent-laden featherweight MMA division next month.
On August 2 in U.S. primetime, the 28-year-old will square off with Ecuadorian standout Aaron “Tommy Gun” Canarte at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video live from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Gasanov burst onto the global stage in October 2022, submitting respected South Korean veteran Kim Jae Woong in spectacular fashion.
He would then suffer a stunning submission loss to former ONE World Title challenger Garry Tonon – the first defeat of his otherwise unblemished professional MMA career.
This past January, “The Cobra” bounced back with a dominant decision win over Oh Ho Taek in the main event of ONE Fight Night 18, securing his current spot as the #5-ranked featherweight MMA contender.
Gasanov knows that a victory over Canarte will be critical for his World Title aspirations and is bracing for a serious challenge against the hard-hitting 27-year-old.
He told onefc.com:
“Aaron is a formidable opponent. We’ve crossed paths in Phuket (Thailand), so we’re familiar with each other.”
One of the most talented rising stars to come out of South America in recent memory, Canarte stumbled in his ONE debut last January, suffering the first loss of his MMA career against undefeated knockout artist Akbar Abdullaev.
Despite that setback, Gasanov won’t look past the man known as “Tommy Gun.” He says that Canarte has no holes in his game, which makes him an incredibly difficult opponent for any fighter:
“Aaron is an experienced kickboxer with solid striking and kicking techniques. He’s also adept at wrestling. His versatility makes him dangerous across the board, so I won’t underestimate him.”
While all 11 of Gasanov’s stoppage wins have come in the first round, his victory over Oh proved that he has a deep gas tank and is plenty capable of battling for three fast-paced rounds.
He admits that, of course, he’s gunning for another quick finish at ONE Fight Night 24 – but he also has no problem dragging the fight into deep waters:
“My goal is an early victory, regardless of the method. I’ll keep pushing for 15 minutes if needed – that’s my fighting style.”
Gasanov Wants To Settle ‘Unfinished Business’ With Martin Nguyen
Shamil Gasanov certainly isn’t looking past Aaron Canarte on August 2, but he hasn’t lost sight of his ultimate goal – the ONE Featherweight MMA World Title.
He knows that a World Title shot won’t come easy and is prepared to take on top opponents to get there.
One of those potential opponents is former two-division titleholder and current #4-ranked contender Martin Nguyen. The two were slated to face each other in early 2023, but Gasanov was forced to withdraw from that fight due to injury.
“The Cobra” says he’s still hungry to get into the Circle with Nguyen:
“I think securing one or two more wins will position me as the top contender for the belt. But first, I need to defeat Canarte. After that, I’d love to settle unfinished business with Martin Nguyen.”
