- Tengnueng Fairtex vs Maksim Bakhtin added to ONE Friday Fights 121 on August 22, 2025
- The lightweight battle will see two knockout MMA artists in action inside Lumpinee Stadium
- Bakhtin has a perfect 10-0 record, but the Russian faces an opponent who has 121 pro fights in 15 years
Undefeated Russian destroyer Maksim Bakhtin has a simple message for his upcoming opponent Tengnueng Fairtex – prepare to be put to sleep.
The 22-year-old knockout artist will return to Bangkok, Thailand’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium against the crafty striker in their lightweight Muay Thai main event at ONE Friday Fights 121, airing live in Asia primetime on August 22.
Bakhtin’s perfect 10-0 record tells only part of the story. He’ll be hunting for his second consecutive highlight-reel finish following a spectacular debut at ONE Friday Fights 111 in June.
On that day, he electrified the “the Mecca of Muay Thai” with a 77-second annihilation of Javier “Yiyo” Aparicio to announce his arrival in the series.
It was a devastating showcase of raw power that ended with a spinning heel-kick and crushing left elbow.
Apart from keeping his unblemished slate intact, that frightening finish also served notice that a new knockout artist had emerged in the promotion’s lightweight Muay Thai division.
For Bakhtin, who sharpened his blades in his native Russia, the transition to ONE’s 4-ounce gloves felt natural from the moment he stepped into the ring. Simply put, it perfectly complements his destructive capabilities and action-packed style.
Speaking to onefc.com, the unbeaten southpaw reflected on his memorable promotional debut:
“It wasn’t my first time in small gloves, but I do prefer them because I can really feel my punches. I feel I can understand my own strength better with them. I also like that ONE uses them, as it opens up more opportunities for standing fights and more boxing.”
That understanding of his own power proved lethal against Aparicio. Bakhtin dropped the veteran with jaw-cracking hooks inside the first 10 seconds, then finished the job with ruthless precision. It was the kind of statement that separates pretenders from contenders.
Now, the Muay Thai Union representative faces his biggest test yet. Tengnueng brings 15 years of experience and 121 professional fights to the table. The 32-year-old Thai technician is fresh off his own knockout victory over Germain Kpoghomou and won’t be intimidated by youth or hype.
But the defiant Bakhtin isn’t intimidated by his opponent’s vast resume or home-country advantage. Instead, he’s keeping his cards close to his chest while promising fireworks.
The undefeated striker revealed:
“I don’t want to give away too much of my game plan because I want it to be a surprise. I know my opponent is very strong and experienced, with a powerful left kick I’ll have to watch out for.
“The only thing I’ll tell you is that I want to knock my opponent out, and I think it’ll happen in the first, or at most, the second round. It will be a nice display, but I’m not telling exactly what that means.”
Bakhtin Fights For Family’s Future In Russia
Maksim Bakhtin’s motivation runs deeper than individual accolades or career advancement. The Russian recently welcomed a newborn son, a life-changing moment that has transformed his entire approach to fighting.
Every bout now carries profound meaning as he battles not just for personal glory, but for his family’s future back in Russia, adding an emotional intensity to his already lethal skill set.
When asked about his plans for another potential bonus, the family man’s priorities became crystal clear:
“I have a short and simple answer: I’ll spend it on my family. I’m a dad now, and I have a baby boy. That’s the biggest win of my life. Everything is good.”
