Surging star Ilya Freymanov is ready to build on his highlight-reel ONE Championship debut and take another big step closer to a shot at ONE Featherweight World Champion Tang Kai. On June 9, at ONE Fight Night 11: Eersel vs. Menshikov on Prime Video, the 27-year-old knockout artist will square off with the unorthodox and explosive Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg in an intriguing matchup that has all the makings of a barnburner.

That contest comes on the heels of the Russian’s unforgettable first-round knockout of former two-division ONE World Champion Martin Nguyen last September.

Ilya Freymanov’s last opponent had a few similarities with his next one

When he walks to the iconic ring at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Freymanov knows he’ll be battling a dangerous and unpredictable striker – a man that he says poses different problems than Nguyen, “I think Shinechagtga is a strong opponent. He has dangerous hands. Like Martin, he relies heavily on his striking. He prioritizes it. Shinechagtga might be more diverse, he has experience in classical boxing, and his footwork might be better. It appears that Shinechagtga is a skilled boxer.”

With his finish of the veteran Nguyen, Freymanov earned himself the #3-ranking in the talent-rich featherweight division. Now, for his second appearance in the world’s largest martial arts organization, the Kuznya Fight Club representative says that Zoltsetseg, with his unpredictable nature and flair for showmanship, is a distinct change of pace from the established former titleholder.

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He explained, “They are two fighters of different caliber. Martin is more experienced and went through some tough fights, big fights, and was a double champion for a reason. As for Shinechagtga, he is younger, emotional, and less experienced in fighting.”

Ilya Freymanov wasn’t ready to take Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg lightly

Despite his relative lack of experience at the highest levels of the sport, the Mongolian is nonetheless a ruthless knockout artist who has been on the verge of a top-five ranking for years.

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And while Freymanov respects his foe’s striking, he’s not ready to rule out a grappling attack from Zoltsetseg, “He makes good use of his strengths, which is striking, in general, and good boxing techniques. He knows how to use his hands, but, then again, it won’t surprise me if he tries to use wrestling as an element of surprise.

“He makes good use of his strengths, which is striking, in general, and good boxing techniques. He knows how to use his hands, but, then again, it won’t surprise me if he tries to use wrestling as an element of surprise.”