Erdogan's Finishing Rate Makes Him Favorite Over Elliott

Shamil Erdogan carries a perfect 13-0 record into his ONE Championship main event against Paul Elliott on October 2, with every ONE appearance ending in a finish.

The Dagestan-born wrestler has stopped opponents in an average of two minutes and 34 seconds across five ONE bouts, per BJ Penn. Those finishes came against elite competition — Aung La N Sang, Gilberto Galvao, and most recently Ryugo Takeuchi — and positioned Erdogan as a top contender for the vacant ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title. The bout broadcasts live in US primetime from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium.

Elliott's Knockout Streak Offers Path to Upset

Elliott brings an 8-2 record and his own finishing streak into the matchup. The 34-year-old Briton has stopped every opponent he has beaten as a professional, including a six-second head-kick finish of Regan Upshaw at ONE Fight Night 44 in June that ranks among the fastest in promotional history. That knockout spree reversed a rocky start to his ONE tenure and earned him a main-event slot opposite the unbeaten Erdogan.

Neither fighter has competed for a ONE Championship title. A decisive result on October 2 could vault the winner directly into World Title contention, making this the rare eliminator with two contenders who have never appeared in a championship bout. Elliott's puncher's chance against a more experienced opponent hinges on landing one clean shot before Erdogan drags him into deep water.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Shamil Erdogan’s finishing rate makes him the clear favorite over surging Paul Elliott