Asadula Imangazaliev could not leave Lumpinee Stadium with the vacant ONE Championship flyweight Muay Thai title.
He left with something almost as powerful.
Proof.
Asadula Imangazaliev lands a left hook on Nong-O at ONE Friday Fights 147
The 22-year-old Russian starched Nong-O Hama in the second round of Friday’s ONE Friday Fights 147 main event, flattening the Thai legend with a frightening combination that underlined what many had already begun to suspect – belt or no belt, Imangazaliev may already be the most dangerous man in the division.
He had known for more than 24 hours that the title would not be his.
After failing to pass hydration during the official three-hour window at Thursday’s weigh-ins, Imangazaliev was ruled ineligible to win the vacant strap. He returned after the window to give a hydrated sample, and missed weight by 4.8lbs. During the face-offs later that day, he looked crushed, the disappointment written across his face.
On Friday night, he took that frustration out on Nong-O.
“I really respect Nong-O. Of course I’m happy I won, but he is a legend,” Imangazaliev said afterwards. “I watched him fight when I was a kid. He is such a legend.”
The finishing combination was as clinical as it was violent.
Imangazaliev first had a calf kick blocked. Nong-O raised his guard. A partially blocked left hook followed, then a right hand to the body that dragged the Thai’s hands down, before a final left hook to the chin sent him crashing to the canvas.
Nong-O went stiff immediately, his eyes open, mouth slack, expression gone.
Asadula Imangazaliev celebrates his second round knockout win over Nong-O at ONE Friday Fights 147
Referee Ricky Sewell held up his head as concern rippled around the arena. The former longtime bantamweight king was laid flat in the ring before being stretchered out.
It was one of the more sobering knockouts Lumpinee has seen in recent memory.
Relief came later, when Nong-O’s wife filmed him smiling in hospital.
“Congratulations to the winner, truly,” the 39-year-old said. “Whoever is better and has the better timing takes the victory. At the world-class level, there are no easy opponents. You win some, you lose some – life is damn fun, bro.”
Imangazaliev’s own week had been shaped by difficult timing.
He had completed his fight camp during Ramadan, fasting throughout, with coach Mehdi Zatout telling the Bangkok Post beforehand that his fighter refused to break the fast even during fight week, when hydration becomes critical. Eid fell on Thursday – the same day as the weigh-ins.
Cruel timing, perhaps.
“Unfortunately to pass ONE’s hydration testing you need to be drinking fluids all of fight week and Ramadan didn’t allow us to do the same protocol as we usually follow,” Imangazaliev’s nutritionist, Peter Miller, told the Bangkok Post.
“Asadula followed his faith which is most important to him. We move forward and he will be getting that belt around him very soon.”
Asadula Imangazaliev during his post-fight interview in the ring at ONE Friday Fights 147
Imangazaliev was not the only Venum Training Camp fighter to flirt with disaster. Bantamweight Muay Thai champion Nabil Anane also looked in trouble on the scales, eventually making weight and hydration with only three minutes to spare, but appearing badly drained. He went on to lose his belt to Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon on the same card.
Imangazaliev, though, found another level.
As Superbon and the rest of Nong-O’s team rushed into the ring to help the fallen Thai, the Russian gestured for the belt around his waist.
“Not this time, young man,” commentator Mitch Chilson said on the broadcast. “But with a statement like that, you have got to give him another shot at the belt.”
Imangazaliev already has another idea.
“This belt – the champion has a name,” he said. “Asadula Imangazaliev. I am number one at 61kg.”
He then called for a fight with Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
“I think we will do a big show with Rodtang, because he did not lose his title,” he said. “We can give you fire here in Lumpinee Stadium.”
That suggestion carries real intrigue.
Asadula Imangazaliev with his team and commentator Mitch Chilson (right) after the ONE Friday Fights 147 main event
Rodtang lost the flyweight Muay Thai belt on the scales in November 2024, and the title has remained vacant ever since. He was due to face Nong-O for it in Japan at ONE 173 last November, but that bout was scrapped on the eve of the event after Rodtang was hospitalised shortly after the weigh-ins.
Rodtang, of course, already has plenty on his plate. He will face Takeru Segawa for the interim flyweight kickboxing title in Tokyo next month at ONE Samurai 1.
But for now, his old Muay Thai belt remains unclaimed, while the man who may have looked most like a champion on Friday night was unable to win it.
Imangazaliev made sure to thank the team that got him there.
“Special thank you to my team here who were helping me prepare here during such a tough time during Ramadan,” he said. “And thank you to everybody back home who has been supporting me.”
He reserved particular appreciation for those closest to him.
“I want to say thank you one more time to my brother who flew all the way here to Thailand to help me prepare during Ramadan.”
Zatout, watching another of his Venum fighters make a statement on the big stage, summed it up simply online.
“So proud of you brother. You shock the world again and again.”
The belt was not available to Asadula Imangazaliev on Friday.
But after a performance like that, the title picture now revolves around him anyway.
