“I couldn't feel my body” – How Shamil Gasanov Overcame Illness To Win At ONE Fight Night 18

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Featherweight MMA contender Shamil Gasanov returned to his best at ONE Fight Night 18. "The Cobra" put on a three-round grappling clinic against the durable South Korean Oh Ho Taek. But there were more factors at play that the Russian had to overcome to leave Bangkok, Thailand, victorious.

Gasanov kickstarted 2024 with a unanimous decision win over "Spider" this past Saturday, 13 January, at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium but felt a bout of food poisoning zapping his energy midway through the fight. However, the submission artist's intestinal fortitude wasn't going to allow him to withdraw.

"When I was warming up, I felt pretty good. And everything was well. But, at the same time, after the first round, I couldn't feel my body well. My arms and legs weren't listening to me. I think just because of my willpower and because of my trainer I could finish the fight and win," Gasanov said.

"It was a pretty difficult fight for me. It didn't go as planned. I was planning to finish him in the first round. I was planning to do the first submission of 2024 but, at the same time, it didn't go well. But still, I won. That's a victory."

Before entering Lumpinee Boxing Stadium's ring, Gasanov treated this past weekend's main event as a pathway to a rematch with former ONE Featherweight World Title challenger Garry "The Lion Killer" Tonon.

"The Cobra" came up short against the #1-ranked featherweight contender at ONE Fight Night 12 in July 2023, suffering a second-round submission defeat. That setback was the first blemish on Gasanov's professional record.

With victory firmly in the bag against Oh, Gasanov wants his shot at redemption against "The Lion Killer." His only stipulation is that the sequel takes place inside ONE Championship's world-renowned Circle rather than a ring. Nevertheless, Tonon's name is at the forefront of the Russian's mind.

"If it happens, I want it to be in a cage. Because I think I can use the cage and I feel much better if I fight him in the cage," Gasanov stated.

"But, at the same time, even if I meet him here in the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, I'm going to fight, I'm going to do my best. So yeah, if cage - good. If no cage - good too. It doesn't matter."