Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium witnessed a tale of redemption as Shamil Gasanov turned the tables on Garry Tonon, evening their career rivalry with a hard-contested unanimous decision victory at ONE FN 34.
After an 18-month absence that tested his resolve, Tonon‘s highly anticipated return to the ONE Championship cage didn’t unfold as planned. The American submission specialist, who had been targeting potential matchups with rising stars Kade and Tye Ruotolo, instead found himself on the wrong end of a decisive scorecard against the determined Dagestani.
Gasanov entered the rematch carrying the weight of his sole career defeat—a loss to Tonon that had haunted his otherwise pristine record. This time, he came prepared with a more calculated approach that would ultimately frustrate the renowned grappler’s ground game.
The opening round set the tone for what would become a tactical chess match. While Tonon pressed forward with his characteristic aggression, landing an early overhand right, Gasanov‘s timing proved superior. The Russian’s perfectly executed double-leg takedown demonstrated the improvements he’d made since their first encounter, though Tonon‘s veteran instincts allowed him to quickly return to his feet.
As the rounds progressed, Gasanov‘s striking began to find its mark. His two-punch combinations and well-placed leg kicks consistently found their target, while Tonon‘s takedown attempts met stubborn resistance. The American’s flying leg attacks and whizzer attempts, once reliable weapons in his arsenal, couldn’t penetrate Gasanov‘s improved defensive awareness.
The third round provided the evening’s most compelling moments. Tonon showcased why he remains one of the sport’s elite grapplers, securing back control not once but twice in the final frame. His transitions were fluid, his positioning textbook-perfect. Yet Gasanov‘s defensive improvements shone through as he methodically worked to protect his neck and escape the body triangle, demonstrating the growth that had carried him through four consecutive victories leading to this rematch.
Tonon‘s ground-and-pound landed with authority and his attempts at face cranks created moments of genuine danger. However, Gasanov‘s composure under pressure told the story of a competitor who had learned from his previous defeat and refused to repeat past mistakes.
The unanimous decision represented more than just another victory for Gasanov—it marked his fifth consecutive win and positioned him firmly back in title contention. For Tonon, who had spoken candidly about the frustrating contract negotiations that kept him sidelined, the result serves as a reminder of the challenges that await even the most accomplished veterans.
“Yeah, sure, man. Well, yeah, there were some major contract negotiations. You know, I was reaching the end of my contract and we had a, you know, we had some disagreements about how we were going to proceed,”
Tonon had explained before the bout, reflecting on the lengthy process that delayed his return.
The extended layoff had allowed Tonon to address lingering injuries through stem cell treatment and focus on building his new Austin gym, but the ring rust appeared evident against an opponent who had remained active and hungry for redemption.
Despite the setback, Tonon‘s future remains intriguing. His expressed interest in potential matchups with the Ruotolo brothers adds a compelling dimension to the lightweight division’s landscape.
“Originally, I was supposed to compete against Kade and then they just changed who it was that I was competing against,”
Tonon had noted, suggesting that those dream matchups remain on the horizon.
The American had been particularly enthusiastic about the crossover appeal such bouts would generate:
“I think it’s a good test for sure and a and a fun one for the grappling fans you know because that’s something that they would probably love to see like you know jiu-jitsu between me and him in a in a MMA context.”
John Danaher released a statement on the loss saying:
“Garry Tonon lost a very closely contested fight against the very talented Russian MMA fighter Shamil Gasanov here in Bangkok this morning. Mr Gasonov fought an intelligent counter striking strategy quite different from his usual grappling based game to try to stay away from Mr Tonons dangerous submissions which had proven decisive in their first match. The first and second round were very close, both men had their moments. In the third round Mr Tonon was able to get takedowns and won decisively with an excellent round of grappling spending much of the round in rear mount fighting for a strangle. In the end the judges went with Mr Gasanov and he took the victory. Though I was rather surprised at the decision, especially given OneChampionships purported judging criteria of judging whole matches rather than rounds, it may possibly set up an exciting rubber match in the future as they now have one win each over each other. Thank you all as always for your support and interest in our athletes. As always it was a pleasure to visit Thailand and meet so many talented martial artists here. Now it’s back to Austin to get ready for the next set of challenges!”
