Joe Rogan's Favorite Striker, Asadula Imangazaliev, Eyes World Title Gold At The Inner Circle 20

The 22-year-old challenges fellow unbeaten Uzbek destroyer Aslamjon Ortikov for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship at The Inner Circle 20 on Friday, June 26, streaming live exclusively from Lumpinee Stadium at live.onefc.com.

Imangazaliev needs no introduction at this stage. Legendary MMA commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan has called him the best striker alive, and his 12-0 record with nine finishes and a perfect 8-0 ONE mark give that endorsement plenty of statistical support.

He knocked out Muay Thai great Nong-O Hama in his last fight but was denied the title after missing weight. Now, he has a second chance to walk out of Bangkok as a World Champion and etch his name into the history books.

Imangazaliev Is 100% Prepared

Despite facing a Muay Thai fighter who also has never lost in his career, Imangazaliev has not changed his mental approach for this title fight. The Russian phenom applies the same preparation standard to every bout.

"Heading into it, I can't call this fight the toughest one yet. I treat every single fight as tough and important. I prepare myself 100 percent every time," Imangazaliev said.

That consistency of preparation has produced a finishing rate that few strikers at any weight class can match. Nine of his 12 career victories have ended before the judges were needed, and the discipline required to bring full preparation to every single fight regardless of the opponent is precisely the foundation that makes his record as clean as it is.

Imangazaliev Believes He Is 'The Real Champion'

The Russian has taken a measured view of the man across from him, acknowledging the quality Ortikov brings to the match. However, he leaves no doubt about where his own confidence sits heading into the biggest fight of his career.

"I think Aslamjon is a really good fighter, and it's going to be a hell of a fight. But I'm fully confident in myself. Everyone has their own path, and I believe I'm the real champion here, and I'm taking that belt home," he explained.

Ortikov's 10-0 ONE record has been built on defeating world-class opposition, and his brother's decision to sell his car to fund the Uzbek's journey to Thailand gives his title pursuit a personal weight that mirrors Imangazaliev's own sacrifices along the way. Two fighters with everything to gain and nothing left to prove except to each other share the ring on June 26.

Imangazaliev Believes He Operates on a Completely Different Level

Imangazaliev has saved his boldest statement for his assessment of what separates him from his unbeaten opponent. The Russian is not approaching this fight as a 50-50 contest between two equally matched phenoms. He has a very different view of the gap between them.

"I'm a fighter on a completely different level. I don't care what he brings to the table. I'm going to execute my plan. He's undefeated, and I'm going to show the whole world my true level when I take his zero," he said.

When The Inner Circle 20 main event concludes on June 26, one of the two perfect records in this contest will be gone. Imangazaliev's certainty that it will be Ortikov's is absolute, and the 22-year-old steps into Lumpinee Stadium backed by a finishing rate, global recognition, and a personal belief that Russia is about to have its first ONE Muay Thai World Champion.

Watch The Inner Circle 20 exclusively on live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT.