Martin Nguyen realizes dream, knocks out Marat Gafurov to win ONE Featherweight World Title

Martin Nguyen realizes dream, knocks out Marat Gafurov to win ONE Featherweight World Title
Martin Nguyen realizes dream, knocks out Marat Gafurov to win ONE Featherweight World Title
PHOTO: Martin Nguyen realizes dream, knocks out Marat Gafurov to win ONE Featherweight World Title

Before his title rematch on Friday, 18 August, challenger Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen looked back nearly two years ago to the lone loss of his professional career – a crushing submission defeat to Marat “Cobra” Gafurov in just 41 seconds — and said, quite simply, “These things happen.”

At ONE: QUEST FOR GREATNESS, the 28-year-old proved that he had regained his confidence and put the ghosts of the past behind him when he beat previously-undefeated ONE Featherweight World Champion Gafurov. He did it with a dramatic knockout in the second round of their epic clash from a packed Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nguyen’s first moves of the bout would foreshadow his final ones, as he came out swinging. The proud 32-year-old Dagestani, however, fired back with an overhand right to the head of the Vietnamese-Australian. It rocked Nguyen, and backed him up to the cage fence. “Cobra” then clung to him with uppercuts and his signature grappling.

Before long, Gafurov had taken Nguyen down and took his back, just as he did in 2015. It was beginning to look like deja vu. This time, however, “The Situ-Asian” was ready to defend his opponent’s infamous rear-naked choke.

The Aussie fought the champ’s hands, escaped the hold, and got back up to his feet. After expending great effort to take the bout to the ground where he was most confident, Gafurov looked stiff and tired once back on his feet in striking range.

Nguyen, on the other hand, appeared to be getting more comfortable as the match wore on. He had scored a huge mental victory after showing the world, his rival, and most importantly, himself, that he could indeed survive and escape on the ground against the dominant grappler.

Tired as he may have been, “Cobra” scored another takedown. From there, the challenger attempted a guillotine choke, but that was quickly defended and escaped by the Dagestani. Still, Nguyen was able to get up off his back again. Undeterred, Gafurov ended the first period in a dominant back mount position once more after another takedown.

Nguyen was saved by the bell in the first round, and made good use of his gifted time in the second. He still looked loose and relaxed, and fired off strikes on the feet whenever he had the chance. Gafurov scored another takedown, which his opponent quickly shook off to pop back upright. 

Once more, “The Situ-Asian” proved capable in close grappling quarters, and got free of the champion’s grasp. Back in striking range, “Cobra” attempted to get his own standing offence going, but Nguyen countered with another overhand right.

That would be the final overhand right, as it immediately sent Gafurov crashing to the mat, face-first. The Vietnamese-Australian followed up with strikes to his fallen foe, and the referee stepped in to save the fallen champion. Officially, the end came at the 1:27 mark of the second frame.

After he was announced the winner and new champion, Nguyen collapsed to the floor on his knees, head bowed, cradling the golden belt overcome with emotion.

Speaking afterward, he admitted to having been mentally broken during his training camp, but the memory of his inspirational and departed father got him through it. Nguyen, now 9-1, credited his teammates for lifting him back up in what would be a career-defining battle.

“This one was for my dad,” he said, reflecting on the man who proudly took pictures of Nguyen’s BRACE Featherweight Title four years earlier. 

As Nguyen celebrates his title win, Gafurov will be left longing for a rematch. He tastes defeat for the first time in his professional career, and subsequently moves to 15-1.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.