Russian phenom Artem Belakh is preparing for an all-out war. He squares off with Mongolian scrapper Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu this Friday in U.S. primetime at ONE Fight Night 18: Gasanov vs. Oh on Prime Video.

Slated to go down live from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, that contest is a must-win for Belakh if he hopes to maintain his #4 spot in the talent-rich bantamweight MMA rankings and keep his World Title aspirations alive.

After an immensely impressive promotional debut against veteran Leandro Issa, the 27-year-old stumbled in his most recent outing against South Korean knockout artist Kwon Won Il.

Artem Belakh is not intimidated by his opponent!

The well-rounded Russian faces a stiff test as he looks to return to the win column. Boasting a flawless 3-0 record in ONE, Baatarkhuu has established himself as a divisional dark horse. Further, his indomitable toughness and deep gas tank are two of his most evident strengths.

But according to Belakh, he’s not particularly concerned about what his foe brings to the table. Instead, he says he’s focused entirely on his skills – the same skills that have earned him an 89 percent finishing rate.

“I had seen [Enkh-Orgil’s] fights even before we signed the contract and thought he could be a potential opponent,” he said. “Generally, I watch every fighter in my weight class,” he added.

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Further, he made some bold remarks about his upcoming opponent. “I don’t think about his strengths or weaknesses. I think about what I have and what I can offer to my opponent,” he said. “These aspects are handled by my training team, and I trust them completely. We are simply working according to the plan,” he added.

Artem Belakh confident in his abilities

Despite the Mongolian’s formidable grit and success in the world’s largest martial arts organization, Belakh has supreme confidence in his own abilities. “My main advantage is my versatility as a fighter, my meticulous approach to training, and also the great joy of being able to come back.”

Further, he says he’s leaving no stone unturned in his preparations for Baatarkhuu, ready for 15 minutes of non-stop action when the two lock horns on March 1. “I am preparing for a three-round fight where every minute will be more and more intense and impressive. And as soon as the opportunity for a finish arrives, I will definitely take it. I am confident in my victory and my work.”

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Who do you think wins in this fight? Let us know in the comments below.