Elbek Alyshov will test his undefeated record against Carlo Bumina-ang's surging momentum when the bantamweight contenders meet at ONE Fight Night 37 on Friday, November 7, in Bangkok.
Alyshov made an impressive promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 34 in August, submitting fifth-ranked Jeremy Pacatiw via arm-triangle choke in the second round to improve his perfect record to 9-0. The victory showcased the grappling skills that have produced eight submission victories in nine professional fights for the 26-year-old Azerbaijani-Russian fighter.
"Fighting Jeremy was a unique experience for me. He is a very experienced fighter. He fought all over the world with the best fighters. I felt the warrior spirit in him. I was very happy to experience the emotions of victory," Alyshov said.
Bumina-ang represents a completely different challenge. The 31-year-old Team Lakay representative earned his ONE Championship contract with five consecutive victories on ONE Friday Fights before rebounding from a submission loss to Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu with back-to-back first-round TKO victories. His aggressive striking style and southpaw stance have forced Alyshov to adjust his training camp accordingly.
"I'm working more on my striking technique and my ground and pound to add more action to my fights. I worked a lot in the stand-up in this camp, because my opponent is left-handed, and I need to be prepared for his aggressive approach, because he's a real bull," Alyshov explained.
Despite his confidence in his well-rounded skill set, Alyshov acknowledges that Bumina-ang represents his toughest test. The Filipino's recent knockout victories create uncertainty about how the matchup will unfold, though Alyshov believes his superior overall skills will prove decisive.
"I think Carlo is a very dangerous striker, but he hasn't faced my level of fighting. I don't have any predictions. This is the first time in my career that I've faced such a dangerous opponent, but I'm aiming for an early victory," Alyshov said.
Bumina-ang's confidence has reached peak levels following his recent knockout victories. The Filipino finisher intends to impose his striking game from the opening bell rather than approaching Alyshov's elite submission skills with caution.
"My confidence has skyrocketed. It's probably at 100 percent right now. Those last two wins were big for me. I learned I needed to be more aggressive. I just want to continue winning," Bumina-ang stated.
"I believe my powerful strikes will still be the key to victory. It's my bread and butter. I plan to pressure him on the feet to make sure he won't be able to impose his style on me."
