‘He’s dangerous in every area’ – Shamil Gasanov braces for tough matchup with Halil Amir at ONE Fight Night 26

On By Pranco

Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov hopes to make his case for a shot at the ONE Featherweight MMA world title on December 6 in US primetime on ONE Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov on Prime Video.

The Dagestani destroyer will compete with the Turkish sensation Halil “No Mercy” Amir in a high-profile Featherweight MMA showdown between two of the sport’s most dynamic and versatile athletes.

The bout will take place in front of a raucous Thai crowd at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand – the same venue where Gasanov put together a two-fight winning streak to take fourth place in the talent-laden featherweight MMA rankings.

Now in the last days of his training camp, the Russian spoke onefc.com about what Amir brings to the table.

While he respects his foe’s all-round skills, “The Cobra” is confident that his own Dagestani-bred wrestling will dictate the pace of the fight:

“(Amir is) a big guy, an excellent striker and a left-hander. His wrestling is also solid. He is good in every way.

“I think my uniqueness lies in my wrestling. In my four fights so far, there hasn’t been anyone I couldn’t knock out.”

Gasanov’s takedown defense and overall wrestling game were virtually flawless during his impressive run in the world’s largest combat sports organization.

Amir, for his part, has followed a similar trajectory. The 30-year-old, a former #4-ranked lightweight MMA prospect, has suffered just one defeat in his professional career and boasts a 3-1 record in ONE – both numbers mirroring Gasanov’s.

“The Cobra” admitted that he cannot find any obvious weaknesses in his opponent, which means a tough test ahead:

“Every opponent is dangerous in his own way. Halil is no exception. He brings his own challenges. What more can I say? He’s dangerous in every way: wrestling, hitting, you name it. We just have to find the right approach.”

Given his foe’s talents, it is perhaps no surprise that Gasanov is not about to predict a quick or easy victory. Additionally, he won’t say whether he’s looking for a knockout or a submission finish.

Instead, he is focused on one goal: raising his hand in Bangkok:

“The ideal outcome would be that neither of us gets injured. And of course I’m going for the win; any victory, it doesn’t matter how!”

Gasanov is aiming for a world title in 2025

Ranked in the top five since his stunning ONE debut against the former featherweight MMA contender Kim Jae Woong in 2022, Shamil Gasanov is being dubbed the next big thing in the division.

Two years later, he believes a dominant performance against Halil Amir on December 6 could seal the deal for a crack at gold.

Featuring reigning ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Tang Kai set to defend his belt against Akbar ‘Bakal’ Abdullaev on January 10 at A Fighting Night 27Gasanov wants to cement himself as the next man in 2025.

After all, he said none of the other top candidates want to meet him:

“Yes, my goal now is to beat Halil and then fight for the title. The other guys don’t interest me anymore because everyone in the top five was offered a fight with me, and they all stayed quiet.”