‘Made History For My People’ – Avazbek Kholmirzaev Details His Crowning Moment At ONE SAMURAI 1

3 min read
‘Made History For My People’ – Avazbek Kholmirzaev Details His Crowning Moment At ONE SAMURAI 1

‘Made History For My People’ – Avazbek Kholmirzaev Details His Crowning Moment At ONE SAMURAI 1

The Uzbek made history for his nation with a spinning back elbow KO to win the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title.

‘Made History For My People’ – Avazbek Kholmirzaev Details His Crowning Moment At ONE SAMURAI 1

The Uzbek made history for his nation with a spinning back elbow KO to win the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title.

Avazbek "Ninzya" Kholmirzaev didn't just win a world title—he made history for an entire nation. In a breathtaking display of precision and power, the Uzbek warrior stopped former champion Yuya "Little Piranha" Wakamatsu with a perfectly timed spinning back elbow in the second round to capture the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship at ONE SAMURAI 1.

The event, broadcast live from Tokyo's legendary Ariake Arena on Wednesday, April 29, delivered everything fight fans could ask for. From the opening bell, both fighters came out swinging with explosive intent, trading fast and furious combinations as they fought for control of the center of the cage. The pace was relentless, the action unforgiving, and the partisan Japanese crowd was treated to absolute fireworks.

Then came the moment that will be replayed for years. At 4:53 of the second round, Kholmirzaev unleashed a spinning back elbow that landed flush on Wakamatsu's jaw, sending the former champion crashing to the canvas. The referee immediately stepped in, waving off the contest and confirming "Ninzya" as the new king of the division. The spectacular finish marked Kholmirzaev's 15th career stoppage and his 10th victory under the ONE Championship banner.

This was no accident. Kholmirzaev had predicted from the start that the fight wouldn't go the distance, and the way both men approached the contest proved his point emphatically. "We actually predicted before the match that it wouldn't go the full five rounds because we both prefer a striking style," he explained. "We were prepared for five, but I was confident it would end sooner."

What makes this victory even more remarkable is the physical toll the opening round took on both fighters. The intensity of those first five minutes drained energy at a ferocious rate, turning the second round into as much a test of pure will as it was of skill. Kholmirzaev admits he felt his own gas tank emptying, but he sensed the same happening to Wakamatsu—and backed himself to be the last man standing.

"We did lose a massive amount of energy, especially after the first round," he said. "By the second, I was thinking that my opponent or I would definitely be knocked out by the third round." That instinct proved prophetic, and in the end, it was the Uzbek star who delivered the decisive blow.

For Kholmirzaev, this title represents more than personal glory—it's a victory for his people. As the first Uzbek fighter to claim a ONE World Championship, he has cemented his legacy as a pioneer and proven that champions can come from anywhere. "I made history for my people," he said. And with a finish like that, he's given them a moment they'll never forget.

Like this article?

Order custom jerseys for your team with free design

Related Topics

Related News

Back to All News