Ramazanov’s win at ONE 161 – a chance for a title fight?

Russia’s Alaverdy Ramazanov avenged his latest loss to a Thai opponent and challenged ONE Championship champion Nong-O to a fight.

In the latest bout in the dilogy of two sworn rivals, Dagestan’s Alaverdy Ramazanov exacted revenge on captain Petchiindi for his defeat two years ago. After three intense rounds of Muay Thai fighting that opened the preliminary card for the ONE 161 tournament at the Singapore Indoor Arena, the judges awarded the Russian representative the victory by split decision. After the fight, he called current welterweight champion Nong-O, who responded enthusiastically via social media.

“This belt should rightfully belong to me,” Ramazanov said after the fight. — I saw on social media that he heard my call and is ready to act. His time has passed and my time has come. I’m sure I’ll take the belt from him.

The previous meeting between Captain and Alaverda took place in January 2021. Then the three-time IFMA champion and 12-time Russian champion in Thai boxing was eliminated by the Thais at the end of the second minute of the second round. The Russian was not only defeated, but also lost his welterweight kickboxing world champion belt according to ONE.

This time the former ONE champions met under the rules of Muay Thai. Alaverdy didn’t let his opponent relax for a second, exhausting him physically and psychologically:

“According to the plan, I had to shoot him and beat him with punches,” Ramazanov said of the fight plan. “But in the first round he defended well against jabs and hit me with low kicks. It made me lose my shot and get nervous because my jabs didn’t land.

Ramazanov was sure of victory, but nevertheless repeatedly tried to get himself eliminated so as not to leave the decision in the hands of the judges. Despite several dangerous moments, he failed to achieve a knockout:

– On the third lap, I added gas. It was clear that the captain was tired – earlier I hit him with a knee to the body. I wanted to break through the suit right away, but he recovered quickly and I didn’t take any risks. I didn’t doubt myself. I’ve replayed that fight in my head a hundred times and come out victorious a hundred times. If we had a chance to fight him a hundred more times in the ring, I would still win it, because I’m stronger. I am the best fighter.

Ramazanov got nervous before the winner was announced:

– When they said that the decision was made by a split decision of the judges, I was worried – in Thailand, in the past, in my long career, I encountered controversial decisions more than once. I myself think that I won this fight with confidence: I beat him, he fell three or four times on the canvas, a few times I shook him well.

Ramazanov, 27, known by his fighting name Babyface Killer, has been training in Thailand for six years. The last two years of intensive training at the Venum club have been devoted to this revenge:

– After my loss to the captain, two years passed – then he won by knockout, and during all these two years I thought about how to take revenge and beat this guy. This thought has not left my head for the two years I trained hard and went for the goal.

The Russian’s next goal is the Muay Thai world champion belt in welterweight version according to ONE. To do this, he will have to meet the current league champion – Nong-O. The 35-year-old Thai athlete is one of the brightest fighters of his generation. Prior to signing with ONE, he had won the Muay Thai title in seven weight classes – twice Thailand Champion, three times at Lumpini Stadium and once at Rajademnoen Stadium.

– Definitely, I should fight with Nong-O for the belt of the organization. I consider him the best fighter in ONE, the best muay thai boxer in the world. He continues with a long series of victories, he is a puncher, he clearly works with his hands and feet. Nong-O is a dangerous and technical opponent, believes Ramazanov.