Once the adrenaline faded, Shamil Erdogan’s thoughts drifted away from belts and toward a birthday back home. The undefeated Turkish heavyweight had a US$50,000 bonus in hand and a very clear idea of how to spend part of his day.

Erdogan choked out Paul “King of the North” Elliott at 2:28 of the second round in the main event of ONE Fight Night 48 on Prime Video on Friday, October 2, live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The win moved the 36-year-old to a perfect 14-0.

Elliott had earned every one of his victories by stoppage, including a six-second head kick knockout of Regan Upshaw. Erdogan smothered him on the mat through the opening round, stayed calm after a right hand briefly rocked him in the second, and then sank in a rear-naked choke.

For the Kremost Fight Club star, it was simply another night at the office.

“This is an unforgettable feeling. I’m very happy that I’m here, and that I won again, just like I did 13 times before that. There is no secret. There is nothing new. I’m just doing my job,” Erdogan said.

“So basically I’m just going into the ring, I’m trying my best, I’m looking for the opening, and I’m just doing my job. His neck was all open for so long that I couldn’t just stay away from the temptation to choke him out.”

The result strengthened his claim to the vacant ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title and kept his perfect finishing rate in the promotion intact. Yet the man who had just dismantled one of the division’s most dangerous strikers sounded far more like a proud father than a title contender.

He first thanked Chatri Sityodtong for the recognition and the bonus. Then he shared what really mattered to him that day.

“I really want to thank Mr. Chatri [Sityodtong]. I do really feel that he does value me a lot. And then today is my daughter’s birthday, so I’m planning to buy her some nice gifts today,” he said.

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