Despite being caught and knocked down early in the first round, Dzhabir Dzhabrailov demonstrated remarkable resilience and power to finish Chase Mann at ONE Fight Night 42. The undefeated 21-year-old Turkish welterweight secured his fifth consecutive first-round stoppage with a powerful left hand and subsequent ground strikes, improving his professional record to a perfect 7-0.
The bout, which headlined ONE Fight Night 42: Mann vs. Dzhabrailov on Prime Video on April 10th at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, saw Mann land an early right hand that sent Dzhabrailov to the canvas. However, Dzhabrailov quickly recovered, showcasing his self-belief in his ability to withstand adversity.
“In the beginning, yes, he was showing that he was a bit stronger, and he was able to do something,” Dzhabrailov stated. “But I generally know that I’m unbreakable. So I just did what I was supposed to do.”
Dzhabrailov’s finishing sequence was a masterclass in patience and deception. He had been landing single shots throughout the round, conditioning Mann to his rhythm. When Mann became complacent about combinations, Dzhabrailov capitalized.
“Mann got used to it, and he didn’t really expect that after those series of one-punch strikes, there would be a series,” Dzhabrailov explained. “And then he just missed my uppercut.”
The fight-ending sequence saw Mann miss a right hand, allowing Dzhabrailov to pivot directly into a devastating left hook that dropped Mann. Two decisive hammerfists followed to seal the victory.
While rating his performance a seven out of ten and already identifying areas for improvement upon reviewing the fight footage, Dzhabrailov remains grounded. He views his first-round finishes as a natural outcome of thorough preparation rather than an indicator of overwhelming dominance.
“We don’t really plan to finish anybody off in the first round. It just happens this way,” Dzhabrailov commented. “I’m just doing my work, and I’m trying to do it really well.”
With the ONE Welterweight MMA World Title held by Christian “The Warrior” Lee firmly in his sights, Dzhabrailov sent a clear message to the champion.
“Christian Lee, hold your belt tightly,” he declared. “We’re coming for it.”