Joe Rogan’s favorite Muay Thai fighter scores stunning KO win in ONE Championship

Joe Rogan told us Asadula Imangazaliev was a special fighter. After the 22-year-old Russian Muay Thai talent’s latest ONE Championship win, it’s clear the UFC commentator was right.

Despite working for the UFC, Rogan pays close attention to many combat sports promotions around the world. That includes ONE, a Singapore-based organization that promotes Muay Thai, in addition to kickboxing, MMA and submission grappling bouts.

There are many world class Muay Thai fighters on the ONE roster, but none have impressed Rogan quite as much as Imangazaliev.

During a recent episode of his popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the UFC commentator had very high praise for the rangy Russian striker.

“There’s this cat coming out of Muay Thai, out of Dagestan right now, Asadula Imangazaliev, who’s like 22 years old and he’s [expletive] everybody up,” Rogan said. “A Dagestani Muay Thai fighter who has his own style… one of the most terrifying strikers alive right now. A lot of people think he’s the best striker alive.

“He’s this long, tall, lanky dude, perfecting timing and measurement… just piecing dudes up,” Rogan added. “Lighting dudes on fire, including Thais. They just don’t know what’s going on because he fights differently than them.

“[He uses] lot of front kicks up the middle, especially to the face. Wicked spinning attacks. He comes off angle a lot, his head’s never on the centre line. Super technical – but always attacking…
“Everything is precise and his accuracy is spectacular. He’s a laser beam, he’s so focused. He’s so good, man.”

Imangazaliev wins gold at ONE Friday Fights

🇷🇺 Asadula Imangazaliev KOs Nong-O in the second round of the ONE Friday Fights 147 main event.

Imangazaliev ineligible to win the vacant flyweight Muay Thai title after failing to make weight #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/SAoGvt9qrX

— Nick Atkin (@nickatkinone) March 20, 2026

Imangazaliev returned to action in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 147, taking on Thai legend Nong-O Hama. The bout was set to crown the new ONE interim flyweight Muay Thai champ. Unfortunately, Imangazaliev became ineligible when he failed to pass ONE’s customary pre-fight hydration test.

Nonetheless, Imangazaliev won the fight in style, knocking Nong-O out cold in round two. It was the biggest win of his career, and will almost certainly set him up for a crack at the belt next time out — assuming he can make weight and pass hydration.

See his finish above.

Joe Rogan has yet to react this big win from his favorite Muay Thai fighter, but don’t be surprised if he has something to say about it on an upcoming episode of his podcast.

Imangazaliev earned a $100,000 contract to compete on the main ONE roster with six straight fights on the ONE Friday Fights series. He won five of those fights by KO, including a stunning head kick against Thai veteran Panpayak Jitmuangnon.