Ilya Freimanov (11-2) with powerful knee strikes snatched victory from one of the strongest featherweight fighters in the ONE Championship Martin Nguyen (14-6). In the first round of the fight, which took place as part of the One Fight Night 2 Xiong vs Li III card, he brilliantly demonstrated his physical form and striking technique, showing that he can become a serious threat to the strongest athletes in a well-equipped division.
Nguyen, a former ONE Championship lightweight and featherweight champion, was seeded third in the standings, and the Freimanov fight was his debut.
Since the ONE cards host fights in various disciplines – kickboxing, boxing, MMA, submission grappling, Thai boxing – Freimanov is not shy about trying his hand at other sports in the future:
– I am ready to fight by Kickboxing or Muay Thai rules – the best strikers from all over the world are now signed in ONE Championship.
The Forge fight club rep was signed to Asia’s biggest MMA league in April and has remained a dark horse for many MMA pundits. Now that it took him less than a few minutes to defeat the former champion, there’s no doubt that this fight is just the start of the Russian star’s new rise on the international stage.
– I have a lot of respect for Martin and his titles, I was happy to share the ring with him. ONE Championship, but titles mean nothing to me. In battle, there is only “here and now” and how ready you are right now. Titles are a treat for veterans and retirees. Some athletes have titles defended against who knows who, won against who knows who. And there are champions whose names are remembered through generations, their victories and confrontations go down in history. I’m interested in writing the story of the best striker in MMA and possibly kickboxing.
Freimanov turned pro in 2014, and since then he has proven relentlessly that he is a serious contender to be reckoned with by anyone who gets in his way. He has won nine victories in eleven professional fights, in the last four fights he has stopped his opponents hard.
– My advantage is a great experience of performances, fights and sparring. I have fought all my life and most importantly I love doing it. Not everyone loves sparring like me.
Training at Kombat Group Pattaya and Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand honed the 26-year-old’s already impressive striking skills. He received a $50,000 bonus for his performance.
— I am very happy to be part of this great team and organization. I would like to express my gratitude to the director of the organization, Chatri Sityodtong, for such opportunities: participation in one of the main fights of the evening, a place on the main card, the bounty and the respect that have been given to me granted throughout my career at ONE Championship. It gives me strength, motivates me and adds drama to my performances.
Being at the peak of his physical form, the fighter is ready for serious challenges:
“I’m here to win the title, to have big money fights. It’s just listed – it’s not for me. Sooner or later I will take this title. Martin is currently one of my major wins in MMA. He was the ONE championship champion in two weight classes – that says a lot. But this is only the beginning of my journey. And I will add many more names to this list! Who knows, maybe you will soon see me in the main fights of the evening,” added Freimanov.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
