Dustin Joynson suffered his first career loss in his ONE Championship debut in October 2021. Four months later, he was back in the win column with a narrow split decision win. Now the Canadian heavyweight returns at ONE Fight Night 12 on July 14 against Amir Aliakbari.
Getting back in the win column was not easy. Joynson had to edge past previously unbeaten Hugo Cunha. Despite the narrow win, the 37-year-old is still pleased with his showing on the global stage.
“I liked my performance. I know he had a really deep ground game, so I tried my best to avoid it. Obviously, I would like to have gotten a finish, but it’s hard fighting all of these big undefeated guys. Everyone’s trying to win. So it’s not as easy to finish people,” Joynson told ONE.
With the likes of Anatoly Malykhin, Marcus Almeida, Amir Aliakbari, and others, Joynson is steadily working on his wrestling. He knows he will have to defend takedowns to stay upright and do what he does best. After the Cunha fight, the Canadian was more confident that he has the cardio and striking to compete against the best.
“The big takeaways [from my last match] are I know my cardio is good. I know I can always go through the pressure and keep pushing forward. I was definitely outstriking him by a lot, so it was good to know that I can put pressure on people like that,” Joynson stated.
The short notice bout may have deterred many, but Joynson’s constant commitment to staying in shape prepared him to accept the bout. Instead of a long process, the Canadian can get right to the match and potentially make a huge statement to the division. It is the benefit of always remaining in shape for when the call comes.
“I’m always in good shape, more or less, anyways. So, three weeks is manageable for me because some people might slack a bit more in the offseason when they’re not fighting, but I still train six days a week. So I’m always kinda ready,” Joynson said.
There is no secret as to what Aliakbari’s game plan will be against Joynson. The Iranian wrestler will put Joynson’s wrestling to the test once again. However, the past could predict the future in the eyes of the 37-year-old.
Aliakbari has been knocked out twice before in ONE. If he can defend the early takedowns, Joynson believes he can turn off his lights. And he is seeking the optimal finish in Bangkok.
“Yeah, he’s a good wrestler. Like I said, everyone seems to be a wrestler in ONE. I think if I can just tag him and put pressure on him, make sure he doesn’t grab me, I think I can probably drop him. Best-case scenario, he walks right into my right fist or to my head kick,” Joynson said.
ONE Fight Night 12 airs live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Friday, July 14. The action emanates from Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The event will be free for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada.
