Shamil Gasanov is ready to run it back with Garry Tonon – but he’s got other plans in ONE Championship first.
Shamil Gasanov is ready to run it back with Garry Tonon – but he’s got other plans in ONE Championship first.
The Russian featherweight earned a unanimous decision in a close and controversial bout at ONE Fight Night 34 on Saturday morning in Bangkok.
Garry Tonon jumps on Shamil Gasanov_s back in the third round
All three judges scored the fight in Gasanov’s favour – despite a dominant final round from Tonon, who took his opponent’s back and threatened a rear-naked choke after dragging him to the ground.
The result shocked some, including Tonon’s coach John Danaher, who posted that he “was rather surprised at the decision” and felt his fighter had won the third round “decisively” after two close stanzas.
ONE Championship uses a global rule set that scores fights as a whole, not round-by-round. The top judging criteria is near-knockout or near-submission – but while Tonon came close to a finish, Gasanov landed the harder strikes and held his own in the grappling exchanges.
“It was a super close and technical fight and I thought it could have gone either way,” ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong told the Bangkok Post. “I would definitely welcome the trilogy fight if fans want it.”
Tonon submitted Gasanov with a leg lock in their first meeting two years ago at the same venue, Lumpinee Stadium – and his team believed he had done enough to even the score.
But Gasanov disagreed.
Shamil Gasanov fends off a rear-naked choke attempt from Garry Tonon at ONE Fight Night 34
“Yeah the first two rounds, I knew I took them,” the 29-year-old told the Bangkok Post. “The third round I got an injury so that round I wasn’t confident – but I still won.”
Asked if Tonon’s rear-naked choke attempts were close to ending the fight, he added: “To be honest we were more focused on my legs. If I could avoid that, it would be fine.”
Gasanov has now won four out of five fights in ONE – and avenged his only loss. But despite talk of a title shot, he’s more interested in a different challenge.
“I say after every fight, I’m ready for whatever is next – even a title shot – but they can’t seem to match me up with anyone,” he said. “To be honest, this fight was probably more important to me than a title shot.
“But if I get an opportunity to join the Japan show, I would be very happy. I want a grappling match with the legend Shinya Aoki at 77kg. Let’s go brother – I come to Japan.”
That card – ONE 173 – takes place on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Gasanov also left the door open for a third clash with Tonon, but said he believes the American should take other fights first.
“I’m ready for a third fight against Garry,” he said. “But I think it would be fair for Garry to have a few fights in between – because I’ve had four fights since our first meeting.”
Tonon has not competed since a win over Martin Nguyen in January 2024 in Tokyo – a victory that appeared to secure him a title shot before a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Shamil Gasanov (right) is open to a third fight with Garry Tonon
The 32-year-old told the Bangkok Post earlier this week that his absence was due to contract negotiations, following frustrations over not being booked on September’s Denver card.
“I promised you two years ago that I would win against Garry,” Gasanov said, addressing Chatri in his post-fight interview. “That’s what I did today. Thank you, Chatri.”
He also appeared to let slip that No 1-ranked Akbar Abdullaev will face Ibragim Dauev next – possibly for an interim belt.
Abdullaev defeated reigning featherweight MMA champion Tang Kai by fifth-round TKO in January – but failed to pass hydration at the weigh-ins and was ineligible to win the belt.
“I don’t consider Tang Kai a champion,” added Gasanov. “He can just go home and rest. Tang Kai is definitely not seen as a champion in our eyes here – and I’m looking forward to the fight between Ibragim and Akbar.”
Shamil Gasanov is ready to run it back with Garry Tonon – but he’s got other plans in ONE Championship first.
The Russian featherweight earned a unanimous decision in a close and controversial bout at ONE Fight Night 34 on Saturday morning in Bangkok.
Garry Tonon jumps on Shamil Gasanov_s back in the third round
All three judges scored the fight in Gasanov’s favour – despite a dominant final round from Tonon, who took his opponent’s back and threatened a rear-naked choke after dragging him to the ground.
The result shocked some, including Tonon’s coach John Danaher, who posted that he “was rather surprised at the decision” and felt his fighter had won the third round “decisively” after two close stanzas.
ONE Championship uses a global rule set that scores fights as a whole, not round-by-round. The top judging criteria is near-knockout or near-submission – but while Tonon came close to a finish, Gasanov landed the harder strikes and held his own in the grappling exchanges.
“It was a super close and technical fight and I thought it could have gone either way,” ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong told the Bangkok Post. “I would definitely welcome the trilogy fight if fans want it.”
Tonon submitted Gasanov with a leg lock in their first meeting two years ago at the same venue, Lumpinee Stadium – and his team believed he had done enough to even the score.
But Gasanov disagreed.
Shamil Gasanov fends off a rear-naked choke attempt from Garry Tonon at ONE Fight Night 34
“Yeah the first two rounds, I knew I took them,” the 29-year-old told the Bangkok Post. “The third round I got an injury so that round I wasn’t confident – but I still won.”
Asked if Tonon’s rear-naked choke attempts were close to ending the fight, he added: “To be honest we were more focused on my legs. If I could avoid that, it would be fine.”
Gasanov has now won four out of five fights in ONE – and avenged his only loss. But despite talk of a title shot, he’s more interested in a different challenge.
“I say after every fight, I’m ready for whatever is next – even a title shot – but they can’t seem to match me up with anyone,” he said. “To be honest, this fight was probably more important to me than a title shot.
“But if I get an opportunity to join the Japan show, I would be very happy. I want a grappling match with the legend Shinya Aoki at 77kg. Let’s go brother – I come to Japan.”
That card – ONE 173 – takes place on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Gasanov also left the door open for a third clash with Tonon, but said he believes the American should take other fights first.
“I’m ready for a third fight against Garry,” he said. “But I think it would be fair for Garry to have a few fights in between – because I’ve had four fights since our first meeting.”
Tonon has not competed since a win over Martin Nguyen in January 2024 in Tokyo – a victory that appeared to secure him a title shot before a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Shamil Gasanov (right) is open to a third fight with Garry Tonon
The 32-year-old told the Bangkok Post earlier this week that his absence was due to contract negotiations, following frustrations over not being booked on September’s Denver card.
“I promised you two years ago that I would win against Garry,” Gasanov said, addressing Chatri in his post-fight interview. “That’s what I did today. Thank you, Chatri.”
He also appeared to let slip that No 1-ranked Akbar Abdullaev will face Ibragim Dauev next – possibly for an interim belt.
Abdullaev defeated reigning featherweight MMA champion Tang Kai by fifth-round TKO in January – but failed to pass hydration at the weigh-ins and was ineligible to win the belt.
“I don’t consider Tang Kai a champion,” added Gasanov. “He can just go home and rest. Tang Kai is definitely not seen as a champion in our eyes here – and I’m looking forward to the fight between Ibragim and Akbar.”
