Striker Responds to Podcast Legend’s Praise With a Warning Ahead of Title Fight

Undefeated Russian striker Asadula Imangazaliev has responded after one of combat sports’ most recognizable voices, Joe Rogan, shone a global spotlight on his explosive rise.

The 22-year-old Dagestani faces Muay Thai legend and former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 147 on Friday, March 20, from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, with the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title on the line.

Podcast heavyweight and longtime commentator Joe Rogan dedicated a portion of a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience to Imangazaliev, sending the young Russian’s name ricocheting across combat sports circles worldwide.

For an athlete who only made his ONE Friday Fights debut in 2024, the attention represents a remarkable leap in recognition, and Imangazaliev has now spoken at length about the praise, his own ambitions, and what it means to share the ring with a legend he grew up watching.

Joe Rogan Puts the World on Notice About Imangazaliev

Joe Rogan’s words carried serious weight across the combat sports community. The veteran commentator and podcaster does not throw around praise lightly, and his assessment of Imangazaliev on The Joe Rogan Experience put the young Dagestani in front of an audience that stretches far beyond ONE Championship’s existing fan base.

“There’s this cat coming out of Dagestan right now who’s like 22 years old, and he is f***ing everybody up. A Dagestani Muay Thai fighter who’s one of the most terrifying strikers alive right now. A lot of people think he’s the best striker alive,” Joe Rogan stated on his podcast.

The Team Mehdi Zatout product carries an 11-0 career mark and a 7-0 ONE record, with six of those seven promotional victories coming via finish. His unorthodox, unpredictable striking style draws from a varied arsenal that opponents consistently struggle to read.

Russian Challenger Responds to Rogan’s Praise

The attention that followed Joe Rogan’s endorsement has not gone to Imangazaliev’s head. The 22-year-old acknowledged the recognition with genuine appreciation, but he was quick to frame it as a milestone rather than a destination.

“I believe I haven’t fully revealed my potential yet. I’m still a young fighter, and I’m happy that people are starting to notice my hard work. But I believe this is only the beginning. From the very beginning, I believed in my abilities because I work very hard. I create all the reasons to win, and the result, of course, is from the Almighty,” Imangazaliev said.

That grounded response is perhaps the most revealing thing about him as a competitor. He is not fighting to satisfy outside expectations, but he is fighting to prove something to himself.

‘The Dagestan Ninja’ on Facing Nong-O

The opponent waiting for Imangazaliev on Friday is not just a tough matchup, but he is a fighter the Russian grew up watching. For “The Dagestan Ninja,” sharing the ring with that kind of legend carries an emotional charge that goes well beyond the belt on the line.

“It’s a big motivation for me. I watched his fights when I was still a kid. Even back then, when I was watching fighters at such a high level, I always tried to imagine how I could beat them one day. Now that I’m older, I have the opportunity to show my style to the whole world and prove that I can become the best fighter in the world,” he explained.

Nong-O holds a 267-58 career record and a 12-4 mark in the promotion, built across decades of elite Muay Thai competition. After ruling ONE’s bantamweight Muay Thai division for years, the 39-year-old Thai icon steps into the flyweight ranks with the chance to etch his name into history as a two-division ONE World Champion.

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on beIN Sports USA at 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT. But first, catch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT.