Ilyas Eziev Outguns Asset Anarbaev at ONE Friday Fights 52

Despite not getting the finish, Ilyas Eziev put on a scintillating performance in his promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 52.

The 22-year-old went up against undefeated Kazakh prospect Asset Anarbaev (7-1) in a three-round bantamweight clash at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium on Friday and walked away with a one-sided unanimous decision victory on the scorecards.

Eziev’s constant pressure kept Anarbaev on his heels for the majority of Round 1 while the Russian kept unleashing blistering straight lefts time and again. Halfway through the opening frame, Eziev managed to take Anarbaev to the ground and land several knees before the Kazakh found a way back to his feet and successfully disengaged.

In the second round, Eziev managed to replicate his success in the previous frame, regularly tagging his opponent with strikes from the outside while keeping his opponent’s back against the ropes. Anarbaev seemed to have nothing for the Belarusian apart from a few low-leg kicks and a handful of spinning attacks.

The third frame saw Iziev drop “Naymur” with his reliable straight left just a minute and a half in. Nevertheless, Anarbaev managed to quickly get back to his feet and avoided being finished. A few moments later, the Kazakh was taken down to the canvas with his opponent unleashing punches from the top. However, displaying his resilience, Anarbaev once again found his way back to his feet.

Eziev remained calculated with his approach for the remainder of the round while his adversary seemed to be focused on somehow making it through the final stanza. In the end, Eziev walked away with a unanimous decision victory and an impressive promotional debut to his name.

Meanwhile, Cameroon’s Maxwell Djantou Nana (5-1) secured a Round 2 technical knockout victory against Adnan Larry (2-2) in their heavyweight meeting.

Larry came out, guns blazing quickly, forcing Nana on the retreat. However, the Cameroonian managed to slow down the pace and land a few strikes only to be pushed up against the ropes. While in the clinch, Larry landed an illegal shot on "Leonidas," forcing the referee to stop the clock and give Nana time to recover.

Nana seemed to have woken up after the blow and got to work against his opponent with a steady diet of body shots and jabs from range. A rejuvenated Nana also successfully reversed Larry against the ropes and managed to land an elbow from hell before the round ended.

The second frame saw Nana get back to his peppering jab. The Cameroonian seemed to be the much fresher fighter dancing around his opponent while keeping him at bay with stinging straight punches and heavy kicks. While Larry stuck to his regular low-kick attack, Nana's output only made things worse.

With 30 seconds left in the round, Nana cornered Larry against the ropes and began to unload a barrage of strikes while Larry attempted to evade and survive the round. Having miraculously endured the onslaught, an exhausted Larry made his way back to his corner. However, since the Australian failed to get up off the stool in time for the final round, the contest was stopped by referee Herb Dean.

In other action, Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai recorded an emphatic Round 1 TKO victory against Julio Lobo in their headliner 144-pound catchweight muay thai meeting; Theptaksin Sor Sornsing walked away with a split-decision victory over Singdomthong Nokjeanladkrabang in a 122-pound catchweight muay thai clash; Chalawan Ngorbangkapi secured a knockout victory against Kaoklai Chor Hapayak 27 seconds into the final frame of their strawweight muay thai tilt; Samingnum M Ekachart punched his way to a TKO victory against Thanungern FA Group in their 146-pound catchweight bout at the 2:47 mark of the second frame; Petchpattaya Silkmuaythai brought the roof down with an impressive knockout victory over Got Phetchaburi just 57 seconds into the second frame of their 121-pound catchweight encounter; Jongangsuek Sor Thepsutin stopped Payakmekin Jomhodmuaythai with a devastating overhand at the 1:54 mark in Round 2 of their 132-pound catchweight muay thai pairing; Mamuka Usubyan walked away with unanimous decision victory against Shadow Singha Mawynn in a featherweight muay thai attraction; Yodthongthai Sor Sommai stopped Omar El Halabi with knees and elbows 1:38 into the second round of their 130-pound catchweight clash; Thant Zin fought his way to a Round 2 TKO victory against Jaising Sitnayokpunsak in their 138-pound catchweight contest; Soe Lin Oo earned a hard-fought TKO win over Masayoshi Tsuhashi at the 2:40 mark in Round 3 of their bantamweight muay thai bout; Luepong Kaewsamrit earned a Round 1 TKO win against Makuto Sato at 1:42 of their 126-pound catchweight muay thai battle.