In a highly anticipated matchup, the #2-ranked featherweight MMA contender, Garry Tonon, is gearing up to face the undefeated Russian, Shamil Gasanov, this Friday, July 14. The thrilling showdown is set to take place at ONE FN 12: Superlek vs. Khalilov in Bangkok, Thailand, and will determine the top grappler in ONE’s competitive featherweight division.
Before transitioning to MMA, Tonon established himself as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend, earning a reputation as one of the world’s most revered submission specialists. Gasanov, ranked #5, called out Tonon following his successful debut in ONE Championship, admiring his rival’s skills. However, Tonon believes that Gasanov’s decision may not have been the wisest career move.
Tonon told calfkick sports:
“To get the double digits undefeated, you’ve got to be doing something special. So this guy is good. There’s no question about that.”
“To some degree, he’s got a lot of fight experience. But fight experience is different than fight experience against top-level guys. I have a few more fights under my belt against some of the toughest guys that were much more dangerous. He’s got just the one.”
While Tonon appreciates the respect shown by Gasanov, he doubts that the Dagestan native fully comprehends the challenge he has taken on. Tonon asserts that if anyone in the division can outmatch Gasanov in grappling, it would be him. With both skilled in the art of submission, Tonon anticipates a tough battle for Gasanov.
Despite Gasanov’s wrestling background hailing from the renowned region of Dagestan, Tonon perceives him as a unique fighter who favors submissions over ground-and-pound tactics. Tonon draws parallels between Gasanov’s approach and his own, making their stylistic matchup even more intriguing.
Confident in his abilities, Tonon boldly declares that he will submit Gasanov, though the exact method remains to be seen. Tonon envisions a possible guillotine as the most likely route to victory.
Shamil Gasanov, with an impressive undefeated professional record of 13-0, made a significant impact in the featherweight rankings following his debut win over Kim Jae Woong. Holding the #5 spot, Gasanov has proven his worth as a formidable competitor.
Tonon, on the other hand, boasts a 7-1 record in ONE Championship, having faced elite competition throughout his career. Recognizing the disparity in experience, Tonon acknowledges that his battles against top-level opponents have provided him with a unique advantage.
“And then of course, obviously, I still want to have a rematch with [former ONE Featherweight World Champion and current #1 contender] Thanh Le (who handed Tonon his only MMA loss). No doubt. I want that from a selfish perspective. It’s just not in the same ballpark in terms of what’s important in this division compared to beating Martin.”
