Dagestani phenom Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov is bringing a World Championship-caliber coaching staff with him to his main event showdown against South Korean star Oh Ho “Spider” Taek at ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
This Friday, in U.S. Primetime from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, the 28-year-old will put his #4 spot in the talent-rich featherweight MMA rankings on the line in a high-stakes matchup between two of the division’s most skilled athletes.
Shamil Gasanov is all ready to get back to winning ways
After a sensational first-round submission win over Kim Jae Woong in his promotional debut in 2022, Gasanov tasted defeat for the first time in his career last July, suffering a stunning submission loss to former World Title challenger Garry Tonon.
Top Stories
“The Cobra” will now look to bounce back to the win column and prove to fans and critics alike that he is still well on his way to the top of the featherweight MMA division.
View this post on Instagram
Rather than changing his coaching staff and training situation in response to the defeat, Gasanov says it’s been business as usual in his preparations for the always-dangerous Oh:
“I have not changed anything. The beginning phase of my camp was done at Peresvet Gym in Rostov-on-Don, and the final phase will take place at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket.”
The Russian will need the help and support of elite coaches when he takes on “Spider.”
Gasanov will find Anatoly Malykhin in his corner
Like Gasanov, Oh arrived at ONE with tremendous momentum behind him and shined in his promotional debut against veteran Ryogo Takahashi, only to stumble in his sophomore appearance against undefeated prodigy Akbar Abdullaev.
Well aware of his foe’s top-tier skill set and ruthless finishing abilities, “The Cobra” will be backed by reigning two-division ONE MMA World Champion Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin when he enters the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium ring on Friday night.
Read More: Smilla Sundell Opens Up on Her Move to Fairtex Gym, Credits Stamp Fairtex As the Key Reason
He added:
“My corner will consist of my coach – who also happens to be my third cousin – and ONE heavyweight and light heavyweight MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin. My cousin Magomed Ibragimbekov has been with me since my very first fight, and I can’t even fathom the possibility of stepping into the ring without his support. He’s a seasoned wrestler and Muay Thai practitioner, and we’ve been training together since 2018.”
Written by
Edited by
Joyita Das