Russian Prospect Ruslan Satiev Goes the Distance, Moves to 5-0 at ONE Friday Fights 41

Ruslan Satiev showed he could swim in deep waters.

The undefeated Dobryna Gym prospect made a successful One Championship debut with a split decision over Galaktic Sports rep Farid Alibabazade in a three-round ONE Friday Fights 41 flyweight showcase on Friday at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Two of the three ringside judges sided with Satiev (5-0, 1-0 ONE), who was forced beyond the first round for the first time in his career.

Alibabazade (8-6, 0-1 ONE) answered repeated takedowns with an active bottom game and nearly sprang the upset. However, Satiev successfully navigated the Azerbaijani’s spidery guard, more often than not dictated the terms of their engagement and racked up points with positional advances and intermittent ground-and-pound. Knees to the head proved to be his most effective weapon on the mat.

Further down the undercard, Satiev stablemate Gadzhimurad Amirzhanov kept his perfect professional record intact and did so in violent fashion, as he put away Morteza Noroozi with a volley of elbows in the second round of their welterweight feature. Noroozi (1-1, 0-1 ONE) succumbed to blows 3:25 into Round 2.

Amirzhanov (5-0, 2-0 ONE) controlled much of the first round with aggression, takedowns and stout ground-and-pound. He conceded a takedown roughly 90 seconds into the middle stanza but managed to sweep into top position under the threat of a kimura. Amirzhanov settled in side mount, progressed to a mounted crucifix and let the elbows fly until the referee had seen enough.

The 28-year-old Amirzhanov has finished four consecutive opponents.

Meanwhile, Nakrob Fairtex folded Dedduanglek TDed99 with a punch to the body in the third round of their flyweight muay thai main event. Dedduanglek checked out 51 seconds into Round 3, thrown into a state of figurative rigor mortis by a surgical shot to the liver.

Nakrob led the dance from start to finish and backed his highly regarded adversary into a counter-heavy approach. He floored Dedduanglek with a right cross in the second round and continued to march forward with no concern for his own safety. Nakrob forced a stance switch from his countryman early in Round 3, then connected with a straight right to the midsection that brought about the stoppage.

In other action, Songchainoi Kiatsongrit outlasted Rak Erawan to a unanimous decision in a spectacular three-round catchweight muay thai attraction at 116 pounds; Suriyanlek Por Yenying rallied to stop Tomyamkoong Bhumjaithai with a burst of power punches 2:47 into the third round of their 132-pound catchweight feature; Buakhiao Por Paoin laid claim to a unanimous decision over Paruehatnoi TBM Gym in a three-round catchweight muay thai encounter at 138 pounds; Parnpet Sor Jor Lekmuangnon wiped out Meysam Adelniya with a left hook 30 seconds into the second round of their 126-pound catchweight muay thai confrontation; Yodnumchai Fairtex put away Champagnarm Por Pramuk with an elbow strike that resulted in a third knockdown 2:21 into the first round of their 114-pound catchweight muay thai contest; Tagir Khalilov was awarded split scorecards over Yodlekpet Or Atchariya in a three-round catchweight muay thai pairing at 136 pounds; View Petkosol outpointed Aslanbek Zikreev to a unanimous verdict in a three-round catchweight kickboxing battle at 126 pounds; and Sulaiman LooksuanAutomuaythai took a unanimous decision from Kijani Jacquary Kwami Aytch in a three-round flyweight muay thai altercation.