‘I’ll Look For Any Method To Beat Him’ – Shamil Gasanov Vows Revenge Against Garry Tonon At ONE Fight Night 34

Third-ranked featherweight MMA contender Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov has been waiting a long time to get his revenge on former adversary Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon.

On Friday, August 1, live in U.S. primetime, the Dagestani grappling sensation finally gets the opportunity to run it back with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in a high-stakes featherweight MMA contest, which serves as the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 34: Eersel vs. Jarvis on Prime Video at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Their highly anticipated rematch stems from a painful memory that has driven Gasanov’s preparation ever since their first encounter at ONE Fight Night 12 in July 2023, where Tonon submitted “The Cobra” via kneebar in the second round.

He told onefc.com:

“After losing to Tonon the first time, I’ve always wanted to come back as soon as possible to get another fight with Garry. I’m thankful that it’s happening now.

“Despite losing, honestly, apart from his grappling, he didn’t show anything else in that fight. In his other fights, nothing else stands out, either.”

For the previously unbeaten Peresvet Fight Team and Tiger Muay Thai athlete, it was the first loss in his professional career, and he’s been hungry for vengeance against the BJJ icon since.

This time around, though, Gasanov promises a different approach, one built on relentless aggression rather than defensive grappling:

“I’m not going to defend myself. Instead, I will show that my attack is my best form of defense. I’m going out there to attack and attack, and to win.”

Recognizing the threat that Tonon’s world-class submission game poses, Gasanov has made significant adjustments to his training camp.

The 29-year-old has split his preparation between multiple high-level facilities, starting at his home gym in Peresvet before traveling to Thailand to work with top-tier grapplers at Phuket Grappling Academy and Tiger Muay Thai.

He continued:

“I’ve been training hard over the past month. We have paid a lot of attention to grappling for this rematch.

“Grappling has always been an area that I focus on a lot. But for this fight, I paid two times more attention than usual because of Tonon’s grappling game.”

That increased focus represents a significant shift in his usual training regimen, as Gasanov looks to neutralize Tonon’s biggest advantage.

With no stone left unturned, the #3-ranked featherweight MMA contender is geared up to showcase his grappling credentials against one of the world’s most accomplished BJJ practitioners.

And even if “The Lion Killer” does surprise him in other departments, Gasanov says he’s ready to do whatever it takes to deliver a highlight-reel finish against the American.

Gasanov added:

“I’m going to put on a dominant performance everywhere, on the ground, in the stand-up, or even when we mix it up. It doesn’t make any difference to me. I’ll look for any method to beat him and to win this fight.

“The dream would be to finish this fight in the first round, by submission or TKO.”

Gasanov Ready To Close In On World Title Dream

A victory over Garry Tonon would do more than just avenge a painful loss. It could catapult Gasanov into immediate World Title contention in ONE Championship’s talent-rich featherweight MMA division.

Currently riding a four-fight winning streak that includes a statement victory over former two-division MMA world champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen at ONE 171: Qatar this past February, “The Cobra” believes another impressive performance could earn him a shot at reigning ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Tang Kai.

The 29-year-old said:

“I’m on a four-fight winning streak right now, which includes a win over the legend, Martin Nguyen. So, if I beat Garry Tonon, I think there should be no question who the next challenger for the World Title is.”

While Gasanov cannot shake off the thoughts of one day capturing the ONE World Title, “The Cobra” admits beating Tonon once and for all takes precedence above everything else.

The goal is clear. The Dagestani athlete plans to make a statement at ONE Fight Night 34, exact revenge on a fierce rival to complete his comeback arc, and remove yet another massive obstacle that stands between him and 26 pounds of gold.

He concluded:

“I don’t think too much about the positions or our spots in the rankings, because it means nothing to me.

“For now, this is the most important fight for me in my career. I needed this fight more than the title fight. After this, we can talk about the belt.”

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