In a breathtaking display of resilience, Turkish sensation Dzhabir Dzhabrailov overcame a daunting first-round challenge to knock out American powerhouse Chase Mann, while Muay Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao showcased his mastery with a stunning walk-off head-kick knockout of Elmehdi El Jamari in the co-main event at ONE Fight Night 42. Prior to this bout, Dzhabrailov had navigated his professional MMA career with ease, securing six consecutive finishes, including four first-round victories.
However, his encounter with Chase 'Mannimal' Mann in the main event of ONE Fight Night 42 presented his most formidable test to date. As the opening bell sounded, Mann swiftly asserted his dominance, taking Dzhabrailov down to the mat and pinning him against the ropes, leveraging the formidable strength he had developed through his powerlifting background. When Dzhabrailov struggled to his feet, Mann met him with a vicious right hand that sent him crashing back down to the canvas.
Mann continued to unleash a barrage of attacks as Dzhabrailov attempted to stand, including a knee to the center, heavy right hands, and a series of short elbows, punches, and knees to the head. Recognizing the urgency of his situation, Dzhabrailov mustered the strength to stand up in the corner, evade Mann's single-leg takedown attempt, and create distance between them. As the fight progressed, Mann persisted in his pursuit of a takedown, but the momentum began to shift in Dzhabrailov's favor. The Turkish fighter fended off Mann's advances, created space, and landed several solid shots, including front kicks that pushed Mann back.
Mann, confident in his approach, waited for Dzhabrailov to make the next move, anticipating an opportunity to land the decisive blow. However, it was Dzhabrailov who seized the initiative, throwing a wild right hand that missed its mark but generated enough momentum for him to unleash a perfectly timed left hook that caught Mann flush on the jaw. Mann crumpled to the ground, and Dzhabrailov quickly followed up with two hammerfists before referee Olivier Coste intervened to stop the fight at 2:31 of the first round. This remarkable comeback victory extended Dzhabrailov's unblemished record to 7-0 and marked his fifth consecutive first-round stoppage win, cementing his position as a formidable contender for Christian Lee's ONE Welterweight MMA world title.
In the co-main event, 42-year-old Sam-A Gaiyanghadao defied expectations with a captivating second-round knockout of Elmehdi 'The Sniper' El Jamari in the strawweight Muay Thai bout, overcoming a dramatic knockdown to land a walk-off head kick that left his Moroccan opponent motionless on the canvas. El Jamari initiated the action, throwing punches in rapid succession, his Western boxing background posing an early challenge for Sam-A. However, the seasoned Thai legend remained composed, drawing upon his vast experience from 427 professional bouts to wait for El Jamari's aggression to create openings.
The second round was marked by intense chaos. Sam-A caught El Jamari with a left hand, sending him crashing to the ground.
El Jamari rose to his feet, only to be met with a straight right that put him back down again. One more knockdown would have resulted in an automatic TKO victory for Sam-A. Yet, El Jamari summoned the energy for a final, desperate rally, charging forward recklessly and connecting with a left hook that sent Sam-A to the ground, prompting the Lumpinee Stadium crowd to erupt in astonishment.
True legends, however, are forged in the fire of adversity. Sam-A stood up, circled deliberately to his left, and waited for the perfect moment to strike. As El Jamari lunged forward with another left hook, Sam-A's left leg whipped through the air, his shin striking El Jamari's temple with precision, sending the Moroccan crumpling to the ground. The referee swiftly intervened to stop the match, and Sam-A celebrated his third consecutive victory, earning a $50,000 performance bonus and potentially positioning himself for another title shot in the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai division.