Garry Tonon Believes Title Shot is Next After ONE 165 Victory
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Garry Tonon’s career has been built on international soil.
Tonon began his MMA career in 2018 when he started competing for ONE Championship. Since then, he has fought in Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan. He has returned to Tokyo for ONE 165, where a victory should put him in line for a title shot in the United States.
“I reached out to [ONE CEO] Chatri [Sityodtong] as soon as I saw the announcement,” said Tonon. “I am focused on the task at hand, but I am going to do everything possible to be on one of those shows.
“I was really disappointed to not be on the U.S. card last year. That sucked. The fact that there will be two this year, it is hard for me to imagine not being involved in either one of those.”
After their first-ever trip last May, ONE returns to America twice this year, first in September and then again in November. If Tonon (8-1) defeats Martin Nguyen at ONE 165, he should be in a line for a featherweight title bout on one of those cards.
“I’m looking forward to fighting one of the best in the organization,” said Tonon. “And I don’t see how the winner isn’t next in line for the title.”
Taking place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, ONE 165 starts at 3am ET. Airing live on pay-per-view, Tonon is eager to give a show to those who stay up all night to watch.
Nguyen (15-6) enters this bout with far more experience. He has competed with ONE since 2014, becoming the first two-division champion in ONE’s history when he simultaneously held the ONE Featherweight and ONE Lightweight world titles. But Tonon believes Nguyen’s time has passed.
Coming off two straight submission victories, Tonon is ready to show why the division is about to run through him. Though he lost his lone title shot against Thanh Le in 2022, Tonon is ready to unveil a skill set that has improved dramatically.
“Anyone who wanted to beat me, they needed to do it earlier in my career,” said Tonon. “I really haven’t been doing this for a long time. Martin has been fighting professionally in ONE for a decade. I only have half of that experience, period.
“My game is changing all the time and I’m improving at a rapid rate. There are massive differences in my abilities. I’m ready to win the title. It’s just a matter of putting it all together.”
This bout is the equivalent of a title eliminator. If Tonon wants another crack at the belt, he first needs to power past Nguyen.
“It is going to be a big test for me,” said Tonon. “Am I where I need to be? Am I one of the best in mixed martial arts? That is more than my record, it is about who I am beating.
“Beating Martin would silence a lot of doubters.”
