Uzbekistani fighter Aslamjon Ortikov has carried this dream with him for as long as he can remember. After 24 consecutive professional victories, the moment has finally arrived.
The undefeated star finished Colombian striker Jordan Estupinan via TKO at 2:06 of Round 2 in their flyweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE Fight Night 43: Tang vs. Gasanov on Prime Video inside Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, May 15.
The destructive triumph extended ‘El Pantera’s’ winning run on the global stage of ONE Championship to 10. To make matters sweeter, Aslamjon Ortikov earned a long-awaited shot at the vacant ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title.
His clash against undefeated Russian buzzsaw Asadula Imangazaliev is booked for The Inner Circle on June 26.
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For the Sport club Shakhriyor and TC Muaythai representative, this is the realization of a goal that has driven him from his earliest days inside the gym.
The Uzbek slugger has chased world title gold since he was a child — and the chance to lift it on the biggest stage in martial arts is finally within his reach.
“Yes, it was my goal. It was my dream since I was a kid, and finally I’m here,” Aslamjon Ortikov told Nick Atkin, sharing what this opportunity means to him.
The destination is finally in sight. And on June 26, ‘El Pantera’ intends to write the next great chapter of his story in gold.
Should he claim world title glory in Bangkok next month, Ortikov will be only the second Uzbek world champion in ONE Championship.
Just last month, Avazbek Kholmirzaev created history as the first champion from his nation, dethroning Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE SAMURAI 1 to claim the ONE flyweight MMA world championship.
Watch his full interview with Atkin below:
Aslamjon Ortikov down for massive clash against Rodtang
Aslamjon Ortikov’s radar and focus is on Asadula Imangazaliev right now. But the young Uzbek warrior has his eyes on a dream fight, too.
In the same interview with Atkin, the undefeated fighter admitted that he’d love to cross paths with former ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang ‘The Iron Man’ Jitmuangnon in the future.
“As I told you, if he comes back, why not? But I wish him all the best. If he comes back, of course, why not? Anyone. It means all of them,” he said.
Fight fans in Asia and beyond can catch the entire blockbuster The Inner Circle card live from Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, June 26, exclusively at live.onefc.com.
Edited by Aziel Karthak
