Enkh Orgil Baatarkhuu produced the biggest win of his career at ONE Fight Night 38 in Bangkok on Saturday, submitting Fabricio Andrade in the fourth round to claim the ONE bantamweight MMA world title and deliver a landmark moment for Mongolian combat sports.
The 36-year-old entered the main event as the No 4 contender and a clear underdog against Andrade, who had built a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in the division.
Baatarkhuu, best known recently for appearing on the Netflix competition series Physical Asia, carried the experience and guidance of his mentor and former ONE featherweight champion Narantungalag Jadambaa into the bout.
He ended the night as only the second Mongolian fighter to capture an MMA world title in ONE.
The first round was spent mostly in close quarters as both fighters worked for position in the clinch and traded short punches. Neither man gained a major advantage, although Baatarkhuu landed a spinning back kick that briefly halted Andrade’s forward pressure. The round set the tone for a tactical contest rather than a reckless exchange.
Baatarkhuu stepped up significantly in the second round. Working behind jabs and straight rights, he disrupted Andrade’s rhythm and forced the Brazilian to defend more than usual. The Mongolian scored two takedowns, the second of which led to a D’Arce choke attempt in the final seconds. Andrade escaped, but it was the first sign that Baatarkhuu’s grappling could change the direction of the fight.
Andrade opened the third round with improved footwork and cleaner striking from range. For a brief stretch, it resembled the champion’s usual style, built around accuracy and timing.
Baatarkhuu, however, shut it down once again with a well-timed takedown. From top position, he mixed elbows and punches with steady submission attempts, keeping Andrade pinned and forcing him to defend continuously.
By the start of the fourth round, Andrade appeared to be feeling the damage from the extended grappling exchanges. Baatarkhuu pressured immediately, drove him into a corner of the ring and took him down to the mat.
As Andrade tried to stand, he turned and exposed his back. Baatarkhuu capitalised without hesitation, landing strikes before sliding his arm under the champion’s chin. The rear-naked choke forced the tap at one minute and 33 seconds of the round.
The win moved Baatarkhuu’s record to 14 wins and three losses. It also earned him a US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
For Mongolia, the victory recalled Jadambaa’s own rise to a world title and added a new chapter to the country’s growing presence in international combat sports.
Earlier in the night, Aliff Sor Dechapan defeated Ramadan Ondash by unanimous decision in a strawweight Muay Thai contender’s bout.
After a competitive opening round, Aliff took control with repeated body kicks and constant pressure. He scored a knockdown with a jumping left knee in the third round and secured a clear win.
The result improved his record to 62 wins and nine losses and guaranteed him a shot at Prajanchai PK Saenchai’s world title.
In women’s atomweight Muay Thai, Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom earned a first-round technical knockout against Poland’s Martyna Dominczak.
The Thai fighter dropped Dominczak three times with clean punches and a body shot, ending the bout at two minutes and 46 seconds. Phetjeeja’s win earned her a shot against Allycia Hellen Rodrigues for the division’s Muay Thai championship.
The card also featured a notable grappling match between Australian veteran Lachlan Giles and Brazilian jiu-jitsu figure Marcelo Garcia. Giles secured a kneebar at the seven-minute mark of the single ten-minute round, handing Garcia his first defeat since 2009.
Giles announced his retirement immediately after the bout.
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