Narantungalag Jadambaa and Marat Gafurov make weight for main event showdown (Photo : ONE Championship)
Reigning ONE Featherweight World Champion Narantungalag Jadambaa (10-3) of Ulaangom, Mongolia and interim champion Marat "Cobra" Gafurov (12-0) of Russia have both successfully made weight for their title unification tiff set for the main event at ONE Wujie: Dynasty of Champions II which takes place Saturday, November 21 at the Gymnasium of National Olympic Sports Centre in Beijing, China.
Both fighters stepped onto the scales at an even 145 pounds ahead of their scheduled five round clash.
"ONE Championship is back in Beijing and we've lined up an amazing card for fans all across the world! Our featherweight champions, Narantungalag Jadambaa and Marat Gafurov are ready to unify the ONE Featherweight World Championship," said CEO of ONE Championship, Victor Cui.
Jadambaa has held the title since his victory over Japanese fighter Koji Oishi back in August of 2014. Several title defenses were set up for Jadambaa along the way, but the champion always seemed to run into unfortunate obstacles that could not be overcome at the time.
As a result, Jadambaa has been inactive for more than a year.
Gafurov on the other hand has quickly built a reputation as a cold, ruthless finisher, with a very sophisticated grappling game since his debut for ONE Championship in October of last year. Gafurov is undefeated and has won his last three bouts, all with ONE Championship, by Rear-Naked Choke submission.
Jadambaa was supposed to defend his title against Gafurov at ONE: Odyssey of Champions in Jakarta last September in Indonesia but was plagued with travel issues and could not make it in time for the event. ONE Championship assigned Australian fighter Martin Nguyen to take Jadambaa's place and decided to commission an interim ONE Featherweight World Championship belt to the winner of the bout.
Gafurov needed just 41 seconds to take care of Nguyen, winning by submission just moments into the first round, earning him the interim title.
Now, Jadambaa and Gafurov are finally settling the score once and for all.
"I am proud to be recognized as champion. It is an honor for both myself and my country. Tomorrow night, Marat Gafurov and I will determine who will have the privilege to be called the undisputed champion," said Jadambaa, appearing ripped and ready for action.
Both fighters are already in Beijing, and are set for tomorrow night's main event.
"It has always been my dream to be champion. I won't stop until I am considered the best in this sport -- for my family, my country and for myself," said the challenger, Marat Gafurov.
"Tomorrow night, I have the chance to claim sole honor of being ONE Featherweight World Champion. It's an opportunity that I am ready to seize."
ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano "Mikinho" Moraes (13-1) also made weight, stepping onto the scales at 124.5 pounds while challenger, the undefeated Kairat Akhmetov (22-0) clocked in at 125 pounds.
