Liam Nolan: "[I want to fight again] as soon as possible. I'm ready to go. I've got big goals this year. Hopefully, two more fights this year, and I'll have a ONE Championship belt on my shoulder"; Londoner beat Russia's Ali Aliev by unanimous decision at ONE Fight Night 18
Saturday 13 January 2024 09:03, UK
Britain's "Lethal" Liam Nolan had a puzzle to solve at ONE Fight Night 18, but got the job done, banking a unanimous decision victory over Russia's Ali Aliev and continuing his march towards a ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title shot.
In the first Muay Thai contest of the evening at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Nolan cleverly picked his shots and peppered the towering Aliev throughout the opening two rounds.
The 26-year-old Londoner exploded into action in the final stanza, however. Nolan wobbled the Russian with a straight left from the southpaw stance in the opening seconds of the frame, and he landed more telling shots - including jumping kicks and a spinning back elbow - through the duration of the match.
Ultimately, all three judges gave him the nod, which pushed his career record to 22-7. What's more, he has won six of his last seven bouts.
"[I want to fight again] as soon as possible. I'm ready to go," Nolan declared in his post-fight interview with ONE Championship commentator Mitch Chilson.
"I've got big goals this year. Hopefully, two more fights this year, and I'll have a ONE Championship belt on my shoulder."
In the main event, No 4 ranked featherweight MMA contender Shamil Gasanov's superior grappling was too much for South Korea's Oh Ho Taek to handle.
"The Cobra" was relentless in his wrestling attack, but despite threatening with several submission attempts throughout the three-round headliner, Oh constantly found escape hatches.
Still, Gasanov was too overwhelming, and the supremely talented Dagestani earned a clear-cut unanimous decision and cemented his spot in the stacked featherweight MMA division.
In the co-main event, surging bantamweight Muay Thai star Suablack Tor Pran49 rose from the canvas in front of his compatriots to overcome Irish slugger Stefan Korodi.
The Thai striker was in all sorts of trouble in the second round, as Korodi sent him crashing to the mat with a devastating right hand. Although he barely managed to answer the referee's eight-count, Suablack powered back and knocked down the Irishman twice just seconds later.
That incredible comeback was enough for the judges to award the unanimous decision to Suablack, putting him on a six-fight winning streak.
Full Results for ONE Fight Night 18:
