Garry Tonon (7-1) is one of the most decorated grapplers to compete in ONE Championship’s MMA ranks, and he has another chance to display his skills at “ONE Fight Night 12: Superlek vs. Khalilov.”
“The Lion Killer” is set to face fellow ground-based superstar Shamil Gasanov (13-0) in the July 14 co-main event, which goes down at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and goes live to North American audiences via Prime Video, and their battle is guaranteed to be a hard-fought one.
To get hyped for Tonon’s return, we’ve broken down three of his slickest submission finishes in ONE – and here they are.
1. Dominant debut against Shinya Aoki
Tonon made a statement right from the start of his ONE tenure in 2017.
The American star made his bow against Shinya Aoki in the promotion’s first-ever submission grappling match at “ONE: Dynasty of Heroes,” and he proved too much for the Japanese veteran.
Near the halfway point of the bout, Tonon was able to reverse position after an Aoki takedown, and he quickly set about hunting for his signature leglock.
“Tobikan Judan” tried to fight him off, but the debuting star was relentless, and he overwhelmed Aoki just seconds later to score the win via a vice-like heel hook.
2. Adds to MMA run versus Yoshiki Nakahara
Tonon took his talents to MMA after his debut submission grappling victory, and he reeled off four-straight wins inside the distance.
Facing Yoshiki Nakahara in search of a sixth promotional victory at “ONE: Enter the Dragon,” the multiple-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion went to the ground to produce possibly his best moment yet.
Less than a minute into their featherweight battle, Tonon dropped for a single-leg takedown – or so Nakahara thought.
The attempt was simply a ruse, and in the blink of an eye, Tonon had rolled for a leglock. From there, it was over in moments.
“The Lion Killer’s” skills were on another level, as he secured the fight-ending heel hook while fending off his Japanese foe’s defenses with his leg.
3. Back to winning ways against Johnny Nunez
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It was another vintage finish for Tonon in his most recent outing.
Following a couple of disappointing results, the 31-year-old wanted to put on a show when he faced fellow American Johnny Nunez at ONE Fight Night 6 in January, and he did just that.
Tonon went to his comfort zone right away in the featherweight affair, latching onto a kimura as he battled his compatriot against the ONE circle wall.
It didn’t appear to be a moment of grave danger for Nunez on the surface, but that perception would quickly change when Tonon dragged his foe to the canvas and deftly rolled him onto his back.
“The Lion Killer” refused to let up from there, and less than two minutes into the fight, it was over.
Nunez tried to take sanctuary at the edge of the ONE circle, but Tonon squeezed him back into open space, where he completed the kimura to make it five submissions from seven finishes in ONE.
