Before Aslamjon Ortikov ever set foot in a ONE Championship ring, his older brother sold a car. That is where this story begins — not in a gym, not at a tournament, but in a Samarkand flat where a family decided that their youngest son’s dream was worth more than whatever the car was worth.

On Friday, Ortikov takes on Asadula “The Dagestan Ninja” Imangazaliev for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title in the main event of The Inner Circle 20, streaming live for members in Asia primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, June 26. Both men are undefeated, and both earned their ONE contracts on the same weekly stage that now hosts their title fight.

Ortikov arrived at Muay Thai early. His older brother brought him to a gym in Samarkand at eight years old, and what he encountered on that first day was all the convincing he needed.

“I was an active kid, to be honest. I really liked sports, but I didn’t know what kind of sport I wanted to do until my brother brought me to the gym for the first time,” he said.

“Even at home, I used to have competitions with my brother. What I remember from that first day is doing a kind of sparring. That’s why I liked it. I punched my opponent, they punched me, and I enjoyed it. So, I told my brother, ‘Yeah, brother, I want to continue doing this.'”

More than 200 amateur bouts followed, along with a junior World Championship in 2017 and regional honours across Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA. He studied, worked as a restaurant waiter, and completed a bachelor’s degree at Tambov State University in Russia. He was building a life alongside the sport, keeping the door to the professional circuit open while never walking through it prematurely.

In 2022 he made his move, following Uzbek friends to Thailand to test himself on the stadium circuit. The financial reality of that decision fell partly on his family.

“My brother sold his car to send me here so I could train and achieve my dream. My parents and my two brothers did everything for me. They sacrificed their time, their money, and everything,” he said.

“After I got a bonus, I sent some of the money to my brother to pay him back and also to my parents.”

He worked through ONE Friday Fights with eight consecutive victories, earning his six-figure contract in June 2025. Wins over Kongthoranee Sor Sommai and Jordan Estupinan followed, and the record climbed to 24-0 with 13 finishes.

At 23, he now stands one fight from becoming Uzbekistan’s first ONE Muay Thai World Champion. That is not a distinction that is lost on him.

“Definitely, my dream is to win the belt and become the first ONE Muay Thai World Champion from Uzbekistan. I’m going to give everything to get the belt, and I’m going to put on a really crazy fight,” he said.

READ MORE: Denice Zamboanga Steps Away From ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title To Welcome New Life

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