Flyweight muay Thai contender Tagir Khalilov is gearing up for the biggest fight of his career at ONE Fight Night 12.
“Samingpri” will be in enemy territory when he faces Thai superstar and reigning ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 in flyweight muay Thai action in the main event of the July 14 event, set to go down at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
While the dangerous Russian enters the battle a heavy underdog, he certainly possesses all the necessary weaponry to take out the division’s top contender.
Here’s a breakdown of why Khalilov could do the business and shock the world at ONE Fight Night 12 this Friday.
1. He has genuine knockout power
A fighter with power can never be written off, and Khalilov has shown he has fire in his strikes in his most recent outings in ONE.
The 30-year-old dispatched Chorfah Tor Sangtiennoi with a crushing uppercut in the opening round of their battle at ONE 163 in December to claim his first win in the promotion.
And he was at it again at ONE Friday Fights 9 in March, folding another Thai opponent in Black Panther with a vicious body shot to end proceedings within the first three minutes.
Thai superstars like Nong-O Hama and Superbon Singha Mawynn have been felled in shocking fashion by heavy punchers already this year, and Khalilov has the power to add Superlek to that list this Friday.
2. He has momentum on his side
While he came up short in his first two fights under the ONE banner, he has undeniably found his way in his last two appearances.
The Samingpri Muay Thai representative has brought a business-like approach to his fights, putting away a lot of the showboating tactics he employed in his early matchups.
Khalilov’s two-fight win streak pales in comparison to Superlek’s six-fight run, but the charismatic Russian will have gained a great deal of belief from his ultra-impressive turnaround.
When talent and confidence mix, you get a dangerous athlete, and Khalilov certainly has both elements heading into ONE Fight Night 12.
3. He is no stranger to big-name opposition
ONE showed a great deal of faith in Khalilov’s striking talents right from the jump, as they matched him with ONE flyweight muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon for his debut at “ONE: Fists of Fury” in 2021.
The Yekaterinberg native pushed “The Iron Man” all the way to a split decision that evening, and though he lost out, the debuting star showed the world that he belongs at the elite level.
Knowing he can hang with the best strikers ONE has on offer, Khalilov will remain cool and collected opposite flyweight kickboxing kingpin Superlek on July 14.
