After Superlek Kiatmoo9 bowed out of the ONE Fight Night 18 main event in order to take on Takeru Segawa at ONE 165, Oh Ho Taek has found himself in the spotlight. The South Korean will battle Shamil Gasanov in the headlining bout on Friday, January 12. It is an opportunity that is sparking more motivation for the “Spider.”
Oh debuted in 2022 with a win over ONE Championship standout Ryogo Takahashi. However, adversity would strike in his next outing against Akbar Abdullaev. He returns to Lumpinee Boxing Stadium to show his full arsenal of weapons and take out one of the division’s toughest grapplers.
“Although I’m an all-rounder, in this match I want to see who’s better at grappling, which is Gasanov’s strength. I’ll want to take it to the ground once my body warms up, and I’d like to see who’s better there. I’ll persistently grapple to see who’s better until the end,” Oh told ONE.
Gasanov will pose significant challenges to the South Korean. The Russian was on a tear and hoped to make himself one of the top title challengers with a win over Garry Tonon. He started strong with hard ground and pound, but the American BJJ ace eventually secured the submission.
While Oh wants to challenge himself against Gasanov on the mat, he believes his advantage will be on the feet. He views Gasanov as a one-dimensional athlete. With this in mind, “Spider” expects to have to defend takedown attempts before returning the favor with his own offense.
“He’s strong and known as a wrestling grappler. I think his striking is still lacking. It seems like grappling is all he’ll have for this match. He’ll probably push with his strong wrestling right from the start. I plan to counter him,” the 30-year-old predicted.
Like most athletes, Oh wants the finish. However, he is not predicting a highlight-reel knockout. He is mindful of the challenge and simply wants the win. “Spider” intends to take the next step up the featherweight ladder and get 2024 rolling with a signature victory.
“In terms of striking, I believe I have a longer reach with kicks and punches, and I have more weapons. My kicks, takedowns, and grappling are all dangerous. I’ll be looking for a finish, but I’m also considering a decision since MMA has many variables,” Oh said.
ONE Fight Night 18 airs live on Friday, January 12. The action begins at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on Prime Video. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.
