Shamil Erdogan Remains Unbeaten with Vicious Sub Friday
Friday night's ONE Fight Night 48 had slim pickings as far as MMA fights were concerned. Out of the eight total fights comprising the event, only two were under MMA rules, including the main event.
During the headliner, heavyweights took to the ONE Circle for a fight matching Shamil Erdogan (14-0 MMA, 6-0 ONE Championship) against Paul Elliott (7-3, 1 NC MMA, 2-3, 1 NC ONE Championship.) With the ONE Heavyweight MMA Championship currently vacant in the wake of Anatoly Malykhin's retirement from competition earlier in 2026, the stakes were high.
Although this fight was slated for an advertised three rounds at five minutes per round, Erdogan only needed less than two full periods to complete the assignment.
Shamil Erdogan Quickly Takes ONE Fight Night 48 Main Event to Mat
Right from the command to fight from arbiter Olivier Coste, Shamil Erdogan, who once bested the now-former ONE Heavyweight MMA Champion in a freestyle wrestling match, used his wrestling acumen to drive Elliott to the canvas of the ring for a takedown, landing a few shots to Elliott's head. Erdogan's adversary on this night was quick to fight off his advances, attempting to return the fight to the feet.
However, Erdogan wouldn't let up, moving to the back mount and dropping Elliott for the second time in the opening round of a fight that was predicated on the ground game in the early going. With Elliott returning to a standing position once more, Erdogan scored with kicks to his opponent's thigh.
Within moments, Elliott found himself on the mat for the third time in the round as Erdogan continued to tire him out with wrestling and strikes. While Paul Elliott connected on some knees to Shamil Erdogan, Elliott's offensive momentum would be short-lived inside the last minute of round one, as Erdogan completed another takedown.
Shamil Erdogan Locks in Rear-Naked Choke
Round two began with Paul Elliott on the receiving end of a left-handed punch, and, as was the case in the opening round, Erdogan put Elliott on the canvas for his fifth takedown of the bout. About a minute into the second round, Erdogan took full mount and landed some elbow shots, along with knees to Elliott's head, a legal strike in ONE Championship.
With Erdogan having landed a barrage of shots on Elliott, the latter left his neck vulnerable, leading the former to secure a rear-naked choke submissuion. Olivier Coste called a halt to the action at two minutes and 28 seconds into the period.
"As soon as Paul Elliott gave him the slightest opening, Erdogan jumped on the neck, squeezed and found the submission," said Mitch Chilson, who was working ONE Fight Night 48 as the blow-by-blow commentator and post-fight interviewer. "Didn't have the hooks in. Not a technically perfect choke, but when you're as strong and as nasty , and you inflict that kind of punishment, you don't need position before the submission."
Shamil Erdogan Advocates for Malykhin Rematch in MMA
During the post-fight interview, Shamil Erdogan used the airtime afforded to him to make a challenge to the former champion.
"I need a fight for the belt," Erdogan said. "Anyone, Anatoly Malykhin, let's go. Let's do it. Middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. I'm number one here."
As the post-fight interview wrapped up, Chilson revealed that Erdogan had pocketed a $50,000 bonus for his efforts.
