ONE Championship: Abelardo targets highlight-reel finish in bantamweight bout with Duaev
- New Zealander Mark Abelardo will take on Ibrahim Duaev at ONE Fight Night 18 this weekend
- The 32-year-old is chasing another impressive knockout and the US$50,000 bonus that goes with it
Famed for one of the best knockouts in ONE Championship history, Mark Abelardo is a walking highlight reel, and the 32-year-old is aiming to add to that collection when he goes in search of his third straight win this weekend.
The New Zealander will take on Ibrahim Dauev at ONE Fight Night 18, and while he enters the contest on the back of an unbeaten 2023, second round TKO wins over Taron Grigorian and Georgy Shahruramazanov failed to move the needle in the way the flying tomahawk elbow that accounted for Emilio Urrutia in 2021 did.
So, as well as the win to add to his 22-10 record, Abelardo is hunting the US$50,000 bonus that would come with another emphatic take down in the bantamweight bout.
“I always like to out there and put on a show, do some crazy things,” said Abelardo, who has been on the roster since 2018 and is proud of his reputation as an exciting fighter. “The bonus would be nice but the win is what matters.”
His opponent, who comes into the contest with an 8-1 record, is 10 years younger, but Abelardo this his superior experience could make the difference.