In a stunning turn of events, Turkish sensation Dzhabir Dzhabrailov overcame adversity to knock out American powerhouse Chase Mann in the first round, while Muay Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao scored a breathtaking walk-off head-kick knockout of Elmehdi El Jamari in the co-main event at ONE Fight Night 42. Dzhabrailov, who had never been truly tested in his professional MMA career, faced his toughest challenge yet against Mann in the main event. Despite being dragged to the mat and pinned against the ropes, Dzhabrailov managed to turn the tide and land a devastating left hook that caught Mann flush, leading to a knockout victory at 2:31 of round one. This win extended Dzhabrailov's flawless record to 7-0 and marked his fifth consecutive first-round stoppage win, positioning him for a potential shot at Christian Lee's ONE Welterweight MMA world title.
Meanwhile, 42-year-old Sam-A produced a captivating second-round knockout of El Jamari in the strawweight Muay Thai co-main event, surviving a dramatic knockdown to land a walk-off head kick that left his opponent spark out. The Thai legend's performance earned him a $50,000 performance bonus and could place him back into contention for the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai world title.