ONE Championship: Baatarkhuu submits Andrade to win MMA world title at Fight Night 38
Baatarkhuu was the No 4 contender and a clear underdog, while Phetjeeja knocks out Dominczak in Muay Thai return
Enkh Orgil Baatarkhuu produced the biggest win of his career at ONE Fight Night 38 in Bangkok on Saturday, submitting Fabricio Andrade in the fourth round to claim the ONE bantamweight MMA world title and deliver a landmark moment for Mongolian combat sports.
The 36-year-old entered the main event as the No 4 contender and a clear underdog against Andrade, who had built a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in the division.
Baatarkhuu, best known recently for appearing on the Netflix competition series Physical Asia, carried the experience and guidance of his mentor and former ONE featherweight champion Narantungalag Jadambaa into the bout.
He ended the night as only the second Mongolian fighter to capture an MMA world title in ONE.
The first round was spent mostly in close quarters as both fighters worked for position in the clinch and traded short punches. Neither man gained a major advantage, although Baatarkhuu landed a spinning back kick that briefly halted Andrade’s forward pressure. The round set the tone for a tactical contest rather than a reckless exchange.
Baatarkhuu stepped up significantly in the second round. Working behind jabs and straight rights, he disrupted Andrade’s rhythm and forced the Brazilian to defend more than usual. The Mongolian scored two takedowns, the second of which led to a D’Arce choke attempt in the final seconds. Andrade escaped, but it was the first sign that Baatarkhuu’s grappling could change the direction of the fight.