3 Reasons Why the Garry Tonon vs Shamil Gasanov Can Turn Out to Be the Showstopper of ONE Fight Night 12

ONE Championship’s featherweight division’s rankings could be shaken up at ONE Fight Night 12: Superlek vs. Khalilov on Prime Video, as two top contenders mix it up to assert their claim to a World Title shot. Second-ranked Garry Tonon will meet #3-ranked Shamil Gasanov in a high-stakes battle this Friday, July 14, inside the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, with the star-studded event going out live and for free to all Prime Video subscribers in North America. 

There are plenty of exciting fights on the card, but this featherweight showdown will be unmissable, and here are three reasons why it could claim Fight of The Night when all is done and dusted.

#3 Fighters Hungry To Prove Their Spots

A fighter with something to prove is always fun to watch, and that makes Tonon vs. Gasanov particularly exciting – as it features two of them. Tonon was unstoppable in his first seven appearances in ONE Championship, finishing six opponents in a row and claiming a decision win over the seventh. 

That run came to a crashing end when he challenged then-ONE Featherweight World Champion Thanh Le last March. “The Lion Killer” was stopped by a devastating first-round knockout, and he slipped to a loss when he returned in a submission grappling battle with Tye Ruotolo two months later. While he was able to get back in the winner’s column in his last outing, there are still doubts surrounding the American star’s ability to perform against top-level contenders.

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For his part, Gasanov was spectacular in his debut, submitting former top-five contender Kim Jae Woong in the first round of their match in October 2022. He hasn’t appeared on the global stage since, so he’ll be eager to prove that his win wasn’t a fluke, and an opponent like “The Lion Killer” is just what he needs. 

#2 A Battle of Ground Specialists

If you think ONE Championship’s submission grappling matches are exciting, imagine what will happen when two ground game experts are allowed to use other weapons while searching for a match-winning hold. That’s what fans will witness in Friday’s featherweight MMA showdown.

Tonon has been submitting people for years as a multiple-time BJJ World Champion, and he has used his mastery of the ground game to elevate his star in the MMA world. Four of his six finishes have come via submission, with the two TKO victories on his slate proving that he isn’t just a one-trick pony.

Meanwhile, Gasanov is undefeated in 13 matches, with most of his bouts ending by submission. He takes pride in hunting for a dominant finish, which will be evident against Tonon.With most of their matches being decided by a finish, fans can expect a highly technical battle on the mats that could turn into a street brawl if it stays on the feet.

#1 A Potential Shot At The World Title At Stake

Holding a World Title is an aspiration every fighter has, as it validates that they are the best at their craft. Both Tonon and Gasanov have expressed a desire to challenge for the division’s top prize, and this match could determine the next challenger for the World Title. 

ONE Featherweight World Champion Tang Kai was originally set to defend his belt against former titleholder Thanh Le later this year, but an injury has pushed their showdown to a later date. However, once that tussle is decided, the victor could already have a challenger lying in wait.

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Tonon and Gasanov are both top-ranked fighters, meaning the winner of their matchup will be further separated from the pack. Who that will be remains to be seen, but fans can bet that both men will throw everything down to find out.