Fifth-ranked MMA flyweight contender Hu Yong will face fourth-ranked Sanzhar Zakirov in a potential title eliminator at ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II on Friday, October 3, in Bangkok, Thailand.
The matchup between two of the division's most dangerous finishers has generated significant pre-fight animosity, with both expressing supreme confidence in their abilities while dismissing their opponent's chances.
Hu Yong enters with an 8-2 promotional record and has established himself as one of the division's most feared knockout artists. The Chinese striker has rebounded from his decision loss to current champion Yuya Wakamatsu in December 2021 with three consecutive victories, including a spectacular knockout of former flyweight king Geje Eustaquio.
The 29-year-old Fighting Bros Club representative believes Zakirov's perfect record stems from inferior competition and expects to hand the Uzbek his first career defeat.
"His undefeated record stems from not having faced me yet. He poses no threat to me—only an opportunity for me to prove my strength," Hu Yong said.
Hu Yong has identified what he considers a critical flaw in Zakirov's game that he plans to exploit during their encounter.
"His exploitable weakness is a lack of significant power — he doesn't possess heavy punching force," Hu Yong said. "I want to test my wrestling and let him taste my heavy punches. I'll put more pressure on him."
Zakirov brings a perfect 15-0 record to the contest and has compiled six consecutive victories across strawweight and flyweight divisions in ONE Championship. The 22-year-old earned his six-figure contract through a dominant ONE Friday Fights run before establishing himself as a legitimate contender with victories over established competition.
The undefeated Uzbek has studied his opponent extensively and believes Hu Yong's reputation exceeds his actual abilities.
"I watched all his fights, he has nothing to surprise me with," Zakirov said. "His punches [are] not bad, good takedown defense, but I am better both in striking and grappling."
Zakirov views Hu Yong's grappling as the key weakness he will target, believing the Chinese veteran has failed to evolve that aspect of his game throughout his career.
"[He has] weak fight IQ, and has nothing new for a long time. I think it won't be difficult to outplay him. I am sure that I am on another level of wrestling," Zakirov said.
