The ONE Championship 145-pound division is easily one of the most dynamic weight classes in the promotion. A crucial encounter in the division goes down at ONE on Prime Video 18, where No. 5-ranked contender Artem Belakh, of Russia, goes head-to-head with surging Mongolian contender Enkh Orgil-Baatarkhuu this Friday at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
As Belakh and Baatarkhuu move closer to their forthcoming battle, a look at some of the numbers that have accompanied them to this point:
80: The 27-year-old Belakh clocked the quickest victory of his career at the MMA Series 7 on June 20, 2020. He locked in a quick arm-triangle choke against Beknur Kochkorov and finished him just 80 seconds into the first round.
78: Percent of Belakh’s triumphs in professional mixed martial arts fights have been secured through submissions. The versatility of his submission prowess is evident in the diverse array of techniques showcased in his record, featuring notable victories via heel hooks, rear-naked chokes and guillotine chokes.
6: Belakh embarked on his professional MMA journey with an unblemished record, securing triumphs in each of his first six bouts between February 2017 and June 2020.
9: Baatarkhuu enters the upcoming clash on the crest of a remarkable streak of victories, boasting an impressive nine-fight winning streak. The Mongolian powerhouse has gone 3-0 in ONE, securing notable victories against Jhanlo-Mark Sangiao, Rockie Bactol and Adonis Sevilleno.
69: The 35-year-old Baatarkhuu achieved his fastest victory to date at Road to ONE “Warriors of the Steppe Finals.” He sealed the win with a knockout punch, dispatching Batochir Batsaikhan an impressive 69 seconds into the first round.
6: Baatarkhuu has six finishes on his resume, three by knockout or technical knockout and three by submission. His versatility is further underscored by his adeptness across all facets of the game, complemented by his well-regarded pressure and tenacity.