“I’ll Be Faster and Stronger” – Halil Amir Confident He’ll Be Even Better in New Weight Class Ahead of Bout With Akbar Abdullaev

Unbeaten MMA star Halil Amir is ready to unleash an even more dangerous version of himself this weekend. The talented lightweight will bid farewell to the division he has plied his trade in thus far in ONE Championship this Friday, May 3, at ONE Friday Fights 22: Sundell vs. Diachkova, in the hopes of making waves at featherweight.

Amir steps into action against fellow undefeated sensation Akbar “Bakal” Abdullaev at the thrilling event inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and fans are undoubtedly in for a firefight when they clash.

Halil Amir believes he will win despite Akbar Abdullaev’s dominant skills

The Turkish powerhouse has amassed three dominant wins from as many fights in the stacked lightweight division to become one of its biggest stars. But his decision to move down to featherweight comes from a logical place. “I’m not a big lightweight, and I think in this weight class, I’ll be faster and stronger,” Amir told ONE in a recent interview.

“No Mercy” will have a tough test in his first match in his new bracket. Abduallaev has announced himself in dominant style and will be looking to continue in such fashion on Friday. He scored back-to-back first-round knockouts in his first two fights in ONE Championship, and he holds a 10-0 overall record, with all his wins coming by finish.

Halil Amir acknowledges his opponent’s skill set, but he believes his approach will be enough to overcome the Krygz dynamo. “My opponent, Akbar, is a good fighter. He has explosive kicks, and he’s a classic kickboxer. His strong point is obvious – his striking technique. I don’t have a special plan for him. I will enter the ring and move forward, as always,” he said.

Debuting featherweight sets sights on championship contention

The featherweight division is one of the most active in all of ONE. It crowned an undisputed World Champion this past March at ONE: Qatar when reigning titleholder Tang Kai bested interim champion Thanh Le. And #2-ranked Garry Tonon is fresh off a submission victory over #4-ranked Martin Nguyen at ONE 165 in January.

Amir is looking to cement himself among the top competitors when he debuts in the weight class at ONE Fight Night 22. The 29-year-old wants to leave no questions against Abdullaev, and he has his mind set on what he wants next.

“My goal is to finish him. If I cannot succeed, I’ll do everything in my power to make the referee raise my hand. After my victory, I want to fight for the belt or with someone from the top five rankings.” he said. All the action will be broadcast live and for free on Prime Video for fans across North America with an active Amazon subscription.