Dmitry Menshikov, Ilya Freimanov, Artem Belakh and Mansur Malachiev gained weight and passed the hydration test ahead of the upcoming ONE Championship numbered tournament, to be held on June 9 in Bangkok at Lumpini Stadium.
Menshikov vs. Ayersil (Lightweight Muay Thai)
In the main event of the night, ONE Lightweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai champion Regian Ayersil puts his belt and seven-year unbeaten streak on the line against promotional newbie Dmitry Menshikov who challenged him. The Russian challenger enters the ring on an 11-fight winning streak and wields the most devastating punching power the division has ever seen, promising a thrilling spectacle. Menshikov is a representative of the legendary Prokopievsk team, which received international recognition, including thanks to the brilliant fights of Artem Vakhitov and Artem Levin. In a pre-match interview, the Russian said his goal in ONE is to become a champion in all sports in the promotion – MMA, Muay Thai and kickboxing. But first he will have to beat Ayersil, who has 21 wins and a clear 9-0 in ONE.
Freimanov vs. Zoltsetseg (MMA featherweight)
The fight between these fighters is the key MMA featherweight fight in this tournament and it will most likely be fought in a standing position. Freimanov made a name for himself in ONE’s first fight, destroying former two-division world champion Martin Nguyen, but to move up the rankings he must win against the Mongolian puncher. Freimanov perfectly masters the technique of kickboxing – his work is distinguished by clear punches, kicks and knees. Mongolia’s rival will most likely respond to them with swings and furious boxing combinations. Out of 11 professional wins, Freimanov has won nine by knockout, Shinechagtga has four knockouts in six wins. Both fighters are actively trading and constantly looking for the knockout blow.
The fight is unlikely to last the full 15-minute distance – most likely, both opponents will fight hard for a spot in the division, which may change the balance of power in ONE and their careers in the near future.
Malachiev vs. Miado (MMA, strawweight)
Filipino star Jeremy Miado is another puncher to enter the ring on June 9, but his opponent is an elite grappler and former Eagle FC champion. Mansur Malachiev, in his debut with the promotion, has an unblemished 10-0 record, including five submissions and three knockouts from his furious arsenal of ground-and-pound skills. Miado has already proven himself on the world stage – all six wins in ONE were won by him earlier than expected, but will he be able to stand up to a fighter with a level of struggle like Malachiev’s? For Malachiev, the main test is Miado’s striking technique, so both opponents will be able to test each other in different aspects of MMA. It’s important for Malachiev to make a successful debut and take a worthy place in the division, and for Miado, the fifth win in a row will mean breaking into the top 5 at strawweight.
Belah vs. Ila (MMA Bantamweight)
Artem Belakh, now ranked fifth in the bantamweight division, burst into ONE with a stunning debut victory over Leandro Issa, who, in addition to the fee, enriched him with a $50,000 bonus. With a victory over No. 4 Kwon Wang Il, he will have to prove that his first victory was no accident. Realizing that he will meet in the person of Il a tough attacker, the representative of Tiger Muay Thai and the hall of the 10th planet of Krasnodar will most likely try to take the fight to the ground, even if he said in an interview pre-match that he is a universal fighter. Considering that Belakh has won the lion’s share of submission wins and Kwon isn’t very confident on the court, the knockout and submission tactic may be more effective for the Russian. He has certainly perfected his takedown defense, and he still has a chance that a clean forehand could decide the fight in his favor. For the Korean athlete, that would mean a quick prospect of getting a long-awaited rematch with reigning bantamweight king Fabricio Andrade.
Live broadcasts of the Mixed Martial Arts tournaments can be seen on and Match! Fighter”, as well as on the sites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
