Uzbekistan has emerged as one among fight sports activities’ most enjoyable martial arts hotbeds. The Central Asian nation has produced world-class athletes throughout a number of disciplines for many years, from placing to wrestling to MMA. Now, a brand new technology of Uzbek fighters is making waves on this planet’s largest martial arts group.
What makes the present wave of Uzbek expertise much more outstanding is the velocity at which they’ve risen by the ranks.
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Many got here by the weekly ONE Friday Fights sequence, the place the group develops its younger expertise, and parlayed spectacular performances into profitable six-figure fundamental roster contracts in document time. Some have already reached the top, whereas others are knocking on the door of World Championship gold.
The story of Uzbek fighters in ONE Championship is one among relentless ambition, high-level coaching, and uncompromising dedication to excellence. These athletes signify their nation with pleasure and are establishing Uzbekistan as a significant drive that opponents can not ignore.
Three fighters particularly embody this explosive rise and have cemented themselves because the flag-bearers of Uzbekistan’s martial arts revolution.
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#1 Avazbek Kholmirzaev
History was written when Avazbek “Ninzya” Kholmirzaev dethroned (*3*) at ONE SAMURAI 1 this previous April, turning into Uzbekistan’s first-ever ONE World Champion. The 25-year-old’s second-round knockout didn’t simply win him the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title, it introduced his nation’s arrival as a significant participant in combined martial arts.
When Kholmirzaev returned house to Uzbekistan after his historic victory, he obtained a hero’s welcome that mirrored the magnitude of his achievement. For a nation with a wealthy fight sports activities custom, seeing one among their very own topped a ONE World Champion represented a watershed moment.
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The journey to the highest has been remarkably swift. Training out of Team Raqobat, Kholmirzaev began his promotional run at ONE Friday Fights, the place he received seven matches in eight outings. Those dominant performances earned him a life-changing six-figure fundamental roster contract in 2025. In lower than a yr, the explosive and all-round fighter went from surging star to undisputed divisional champion.
His general document stands at a formidable 16-2, however his ONE statistics are much more eye-catching: 10-1 with 9 finishes. Currently driving a seven-fight profitable streak, Kholmirzaev is getting ready for his first World Title protection.
#2 Aslamjon Ortikov
While Kholmirzaev has already captured gold, Aslamjon Ortikov sits only one combat away from making historical past of his personal. The undefeated 23-year-old Muay Thai striker will problem for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship at The Inner Circle 20 on June 26 in opposition to fellow undefeated fighter Asadula Imangazaliev.
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Ortikov’s credentials are plain. His skilled document stands at an ideal 24-0 with a formidable 13 finishes, proving he’s not content material to win choices. In ONE, he’s maintained that perfection with a 10-0 document and 5 stoppage victories.
The 23-year-old earned his alternative by epic performances at ONE Friday Fights, which resulted in a US$100,000 fundamental roster contract. Since becoming a member of the worldwide stage, Ortikov has defeated a few of the world’s largest Muay Thai stars, incomes him respect in a sport that values custom and confirmed talent.
If Ortikov defeats Imangazaliev at The Inner Circle 20, he’ll change into Uzbekistan’s first-ever ONE Muay Thai World Champion, additional cementing his nation’s dominance throughout ONE’s a number of disciplines. Training at TC Muaythai and Sport Club Shakhriyor, he has the instruments, the document, and the momentum to convey that title house.
#3 Sanzhar Zakirov
While Kholmirzaev has already claimed championship gold and Ortikov prepares for his personal shot on the coveted belt, Sanzhar “Tornado” Zakirov represents the subsequent wave of Uzbek expertise. The 23-year-old stays undefeated with an ideal 16-0 combined martial arts document and an unblemished 7-0 mark in ONE.
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Zakirov, who trains at Khaturaev Team, additionally got here by the ONE Friday Fights pipeline and earned his US$100,000 contract after impressing within the weekly sequence. His undefeated document within the promotion suggests there’s loads extra success forward for the younger Uzbek sensation.
At simply 23 years outdated, Zakirov has already established himself among the many division’s most interesting. As he continues to climb the ranks, the “Tornado” has all of the potential to observe in Kholmirzaev’s footsteps and ultimately compete for championship gold.
For now, he stays centered on extending his profitable streak when he faces Russia’s Ruslan Satiev at ONE Fight Night 45 on Prime Video on July 17.