A title only means something if a champion is willing to keep defending it. Friday night puts that principle to its first real test.

Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu defends his ONE Bantamweight MMA World Title against undefeated Azerbaijani-Russian standout Elbek Alyshov in the main event of The Inner Circle 24 on Friday, July 31. The card streams live for subscribers from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

Alyshov enters on the back of consecutive submission wins over Carlo Bumina-ang and Jeremy Pacatiw, two names Baatarkhuu is intimately familiar with from his own path to the title. Where the champion needed three rounds to finish Bumina-ang and went the distance against Pacatiw, Alyshov dispatched both men far more emphatically.

Baatarkhuu does not shy away from acknowledging what that means for Friday’s fight.

“He is a good opponent for me. He’s a very strong and skillful grappler who is really good at finishing his opponents when he has his submission locked in,” Baatarkhuu said.

“He’s probably a better wrestler than me, but it’s too early to say. Anyways, I’m the champion, and I’m going to defend my belt.”

Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu backs himself to retain gold

Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu’s respect for his challenger has not shaken his belief that he holds the tactical edge once the two men are locked inside the Circle. He has broken down Alyshov’s tendencies as thoroughly as the champion expects to be studied himself.

That homework has left him with a clear read on how Friday’s fight should unfold.

“Although I said that he’s a strong opponent, I’m confident that I will get the victory. His fighting style is quite similar to mine. So it will be kind of easy for me to deal with,” Baatarkhuu said.

“My mentality is more toward winning this fight. I think I have a better chance at winning than he does.”