After a number of setbacks, #2-ranked flyweight contender Danny “The King” Kingad and #4-ranked Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov are lastly set to sq. off contained in the Circle.
The long-awaited blended martial arts battle will prime the invoice at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II, which airs from the Singapore Indoor Stadium this Friday, 17 December.
Each males really feel a win would earn them a rematch with reigning king Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes for the ONE Flyweight World Title, in order that they’re extraordinarily motivated to go away “The Lion Metropolis” with their hand raised.
Right here’s what they’ll have to do to safe victory and work their means towards the gold.
#1 Clinch Is Key For Akhmetov
![Exclusive photos from Kazakh flyweight Kairat Akhmetov and South Korean star Dae Hwan Kim’s MMA fight at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II on 25 December](https://cdn.onefc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kairat-Akhmetov-Dae-Hwan-Kim-ONE-Collision-Course-1920X1280-25-1200x800.jpg)
Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Akhmetov is a grasp within the clinch, and he might want to make it his mission to pressure the motion at shut quarters.
The Almaty native’s hanging sport has improved massively over time, and it even helped him to defeat Reece “Lightning” McLaren. However towards Kingad’s wushu acumen, the Kazakh Nationwide Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion shall be higher off utilizing his grappling abilities to shut the space.
If he could make the Filipino respect his highly effective left cross, he can again him as much as the Circle Wall and tie up his higher physique.
As soon as he has a grip on his rivals, Akhmetov is tough to shake off. He may have famous that “The Hunter” Xie Wei discovered some success towards the Circle Wall when he fought Kingad and may really feel like he can dominate much more from that place.
Anticipate “The Kazakh” to attain with exhausting punches and knees after they’re clinched up, all of the whereas in search of his probability to throw or drop ranges for takedowns.
#2 Kingad’s Kicks
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“The King” must preserve out of his rival’s clutches to benefit from his hanging benefit, and his kicks may very well be the largest device to assist him with this objective.
As an orthodox striker going towards a southpaw, Kingad ought to be aiming to make use of his heavy proper low kick to focus on the internal thigh and quick left low kick to break the outer thigh and calf of the Almaty resident. This may assist to build up harm and off-balance his foe as he steps ahead.
With a heavy, motionless lead leg, Akhmetov’s capacity to be explosive and shoot in for takedowns shall be dramatically decreased.
The Baguio Metropolis man may attempt to stem the ahead strain by utilizing his lead leg facet kick to the knee and thigh – a method that’s made even simpler from the opposing stance.
Kingad ought to avoid kicking to the physique as a lot as potential to forestall “The Kazakh” from catching the leg and dumping him to the mat, however he can preserve him guessing and again him up with the famed Crew Lakay spinning kicks.
#3 Akhmetov’s Tight Prime Sport
![Exclusive photos from Kazakh flyweight Kairat Akhmetov and South Korean star Dae Hwan Kim’s MMA fight at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II on 25 December](https://cdn.onefc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kairat-Akhmetov-Dae-Hwan-Kim-ONE-Collision-Course-1920X1280-36-1200x799.jpg)
It’s unlikely that Akhmetov will have the ability to get in on the Filipino standout with out paying a value – both in vitality expended or strikes absorbed – so it’s crucial that he makes essentially the most of any profitable breakthrough he can handle.
If he does deliver “The King” to the bottom, the Arlan MMA Professional Crew and Tiger Muay Thai athlete must do every thing he can to maintain him there.
It won’t be the prettiest tactic, however Akhmetov – who has received all of his ONE bouts by resolution – has to remain glued to his foe and never provide up an excessive amount of house between them for Kingad to take advantage of.
Which means staying low and scoring with quick punches, elbows, and knees on the mat, somewhat than posturing up for the larger photographs that might open up a window of alternative for escape.
A gradual stream of offense will assist keep management and pressure extra desperation out of Kingad. That would, in flip, provide up probabilities for “The Kazakh” to advance his place and dominate.
#4 Kingad’s Scrambling Capacity
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The Crew Lakay athletes have definitely advanced on the bottom lately, but when Kingad is on his again, his predominant focus must be on getting frames between his opponent’s physique, making house, and discovering a route again to his toes.
The 26-year-old is just not the simplest man to seek out, and he’s even tougher to carry down when he makes use of his athleticism in the appropriate means.
Nonetheless, “The King” may get sidetracked in search of submissions that don’t come off, which can be a fascinating option to end the competition, however unlikely, given Akhmetov’s elite grappling abilities.
If Kingad manages to open up house, then getting again to his toes and establishing a ways the place he can comfortably strike is a main goal.
If he hits a sweep, a stand-up is at all times an choice, however he does even have a powerful prime sport that he may make use of to flip the script on his wrestling rival.
Learn extra: 5 Causes To Watch ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II