{"id":101111,"date":"2025-08-28T02:32:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T02:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/101111\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T02:32:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T02:32:08","slug":"top-five-ranked-flyweight-mma-contenders-sanzhar-zakirov-hu-yong-set-to-lock-horns-at-one-fight-night-36","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/101111\/","title":{"rendered":"Top-Five Ranked Flyweight MMA Contenders Sanzhar Zakirov, Hu Yong Set To Lock Horns At ONE Fight Night 36"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two of the flyweight division\u2019s most feared finishers will collide when #3-ranked Uzbek sensation Sanzhar \u201cTornado\u201d Zakirov<\/a> squares off against #5-ranked Chinese powerhouse \u201cWolf Warrior\u201d Hu Yong<\/a> in a pivotal MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II on Prime Video<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This high-stakes clash will go down on Friday, October 3, from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.<\/p>\n

\"Sanzhar<\/p>\n

Zakirov\u2019s pristine 15-0 professional record speaks volumes about his skill set. The 22-year-old phenom has been unstoppable since joining ONE Championship, racking up six straight victories across flyweight and strawweight.<\/p>\n

\u201cTornado\u201d has systematically dismantled every opponent placed in front of him, earning a lucrative six-figure contract after his dominant run through ONE Friday Fights. His impressive decision victory over divisional mainstay Tatsumitsu \u201cThe Sweeper\u201d Wada<\/a> showcased his technical evolution, while his knockout win over seasoned veteran Eko Roni Saputra<\/a> demonstrated his finishing instincts against elite competition.<\/p>\n

Zakirov\u2019s most recent triumph over South African powerhouse Bokang \u201cLittle Giant\u201d Masunyane<\/a> at ONE Fight Night 30<\/a> last April proved he belongs with the upper echelon of the division.<\/p>\n

The flashy Uzbek\u2019s ability to finish fights anywhere the action goes has caught the attention of the entire flyweight division. His technical prowess, combined with an unrelenting pace, has made him one of the most dangerous contenders in the talent-rich 135-pound ranks.<\/p>\n

However, Zakirov will be in for a tough challenge against an opponent with the same finishing instincts.<\/p>\n

For Hu, this represents a golden opportunity to showcase the devastating finishing ability that has made him one of the most feared strikers in ONE Championship.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old Beijing native has compiled an impressive 8-2 promotional record, establishing himself as a legitimate threat to anyone willing to stand and trade.<\/p>\n

\u201cWolf Warrior\u201d has been nothing short of spectacular during his recent run, displaying the explosive knockout power and well-rounded skill set that earned him his place among the flyweight elite.<\/p>\n

His methodical dismantling of former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Geje \u201cGravity\u201d Eustaquio<\/a> showcased his ability to perform under pressure against seasoned veterans.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Fighting Bros Club standout followed that statement victory with another emphatic finish, needing just 63 seconds to dispatch Saputra with a perfectly timed left hook. That lightning-quick knockout demonstrated Hu\u2019s evolution as a complete mixed martial artist, blending his signature combinations with improved timing and ring intelligence.<\/p>\n

The Chinese striker is hungry for a statement performance that would move him toward ONE World Title contention. A dominant victory could potentially set up a highly anticipated rematch with reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya \u201cLittle Piranha\u201d Wakamatsu<\/a>, after their closely contested battle ended in defeat for \u201cWolf Warrior.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

This stylistic clash pits two top-five contenders with everything to prove in ONE\u2019s ultra-competitive flyweight division.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Hu, victory would push him higher up the rankings, while Zakirov can cement his place as a legitimate threat. With both men possessing spectacular finishing ability, excitement is guaranteed when these surging stars collide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Two of the flyweight division\u2019s most feared finishers will collide when #3-ranked Uzbek sensation Sanzhar \u201cTornado\u201d Zakirov squares…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":101112,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[570],"tags":[64,63,786,785,85],"class_list":["post-101111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mma","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-fighting","tag-mma","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101111"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101111\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}