Undefeated American sensation Chase “Mannimal” Mann is back, and this time, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The 29-year-old Arkansas native headlines ONE Fight Night 42 on Prime Video, where he’ll face unbeaten Turkish finisher Dzhabir Dzhabrailov in a welterweight MMA clash.
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That event will broadcast live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, April 10, and there could be more on the line than just a perfect record.
Between the duo, they own a combined 13 wins, 11 stoppages, and zero losses. Victory in Bangkok could earn either man a shot at two-division ONE World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee‘s welterweight belt.
For Mann, the undefeated-versus-undefeated storyline is a nice detail. However, it isn’t what drives him.
The powerlifting beast explained:
“It’s a cool thing that we’re both undefeated, but I’m not holding on to that. I hear a lot of guys say they’re fighting not to lose, and they’re holding on to it. I’m just fighting to win.
“I would like to go undefeated my whole career, which would be cool. But I’m just here to fight, and this will be an interesting clash between two undefeated guys.”
To ensure he gets his hand raised, the Arkansas buzzsaw has left no ground uncovered in his preparation.
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Mann has studied Dzhabrailov closely and arrived at a detailed understanding of exactly what he is walking into.
The “Mannimal” continued:
“I’ve watched every fight of his, and he is another killer. He looks like a Muay Thai fighter. He’s got very good skills. He’s got very explosive striking. He usually gets it done in the first round, so I must find a way to use that against him.”
Dzhabrailov’s finishing instincts are well-documented. All three of his ONE Championship victories came within the first two minutes. In every one of those battles, he displayed explosiveness, relentlessness, and an obsession to end the night early.
For most opponents, that kind of forward pressure is an overwhelming force. Mann, however, sees it differently. The aggression that has ended every one of Dzhabrailov’s opponents is, in his view, a double-edged sword.
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Mann explained:
“A skill like that, just forward pressure and aggression, can also be a weakness. You’ve got to fight everybody a little differently. Obviously, you use your strengths, but I think it could turn out to be a weakness in this one.
“He loves coming forward and lets his hands fly. I like to come forward, pick people up, slam them, and hit them on the ground. So, I guess we’ll find out what he’ll do. It’s gonna be fun.”
Fun is one word for it. After all, they are two unbeaten wrecking machines known to produce mayhem every time they step into the ring.
Between them, one spotless record survives on April 10, and Mann has already mapped out exactly how. When asked for his prediction, the answer arrived without hesitation.
He warned:
“Somebody’s getting finished. It’s not going to a decision. It might take two, or it might take three [rounds]. But I think I’ll submit him halfway through the third round.”
Mann Looks To Bring World Title Dreams To Life
Chase Mann enters this matchup on the back of a decisive promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 39 this past January.
He earned a first-round TKO victory over Isi “Doxz” Fitikefu to move his career record to a spotless 7-0. It was a statement arrival, and one that still hasn’t fully sunk in.
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The American added:
“It’s always a relief to come out with a win. It’s a dream come true. I’m getting to live my dream, and I’m fighting for the best promotion in the world.
“Even seeing the pictures of me in the ring, I’m like, ‘Oh, crap. I’m really doing this.’ But I don’t let stuff go to my head like that. I’m just taking it a day at a time.”
Taking it one day at a time hasn’t stopped the bigger picture from coming into focus.
A triumph over Dzhabrailov – a fighter with a similar level of relentlessness – could earn him a shot at Christian Lee’s ONE Welterweight MMA World Championship.
Mann has done the calculations, and he’ll be more than happy if that chance comes knocking on his door next:
“I’ve thought about it. I’ve done the MMA math in my head and everything. But I can’t think about it too much right now. I’m going to get too excited, and I don’t want to be arrogant.
“But yes, I could see the winner [of this match] getting a title shot, for sure. I’ve always thought and said that I don’t want to rush anything. But if the opportunity presents itself, absolutely. Let’s do it!”
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