Aslamjon Ortikov suffered the first defeat of his professional career, but the Uzbek star has no intention of letting the setback define him.
Ortikov lost a razor-thin split decision to Asadula Imangazaliev in the main event of The Inner Circle 20 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 26. The bout was contested for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship, with two of the three judges awarding the victory to Imangazaliev.
The result ended Aslamjon Ortikov’s unbeaten run and moved his professional record to 24-1. Despite the loss, the 23-year-old believes he did enough to win and left the ring convinced of his performance.
“As you saw, guys, I did my best. It even looked like I won. You can see it from my face,” Ortikov said. “But the decision wasn’t in my hands or yours. So, I have to accept it. What can I do? I did my best and showed everyone a great fight.”
The five-round title fight delivered exactly what fans expected from two elite strikers competing at the highest level. Both men showcased their skills throughout a closely contested battle that remained difficult to score until the final bell.
Aslamjon Ortikov constantly switched stances, used his movement effectively, and mixed his striking attacks with precision. He landed clean punches, push kicks, spinning attacks, and combinations that repeatedly forced his opponent to reset.
One of his most notable moments came in the third round when a punch bloodied Imangazaliev’s nose. Meanwhile, Ortikov emerged from the contest without visible damage, something he pointed to when discussing the judges’ decision.
“You could see how many kicks I landed on him, how many push kicks I landed to his face, and the spinning backfists. And look at my face. There wasn’t a mark on it.”
Although disappointed by the outcome, Ortikov said he never doubted his performance inside the ring.
“Of course, I believed in myself that I won.”
“I don’t know what other people thought or who they believed won, but for me, I was inside the ring and fighting there. During the fight, I thought I won, but that’s how it is.”
While many fighters struggle after losing an undefeated record, Aslamjon Ortikov insists the defeat has not shaken his confidence.
Rather than focusing on the judges’ scorecards, he has chosen to focus on the positives. He fought five hard rounds against one of the sport’s most dangerous strikers, stayed competitive throughout the contest, and left the ring healthy.
“It didn’t affect me at all. I know what I did, and I know how I fought. I didn’t give up at all.It was a very good fight, and I fought until the end. Most importantly, nothing happened to me. My body wasn’t injured. So this loss doesn’t affect me at all.”
Before returning to training, Aslamjon Ortikov plans to take a brief break and enjoy some well-earned downtime with family, friends, and his team.
“Right now, my next goal is a burger,” Ortikov said with a smile.“I want to go smash some burgers and pizza, relax, and spend time with my family, my dad, my coaches, and my team. That’s all I want for now.”
Even after suffering the first loss of his career, Ortikov remains confident that his best days are still ahead.
Asked whether fans would see him return stronger, the Uzbek standout left no room for doubt.
“You already saw the best version of me, and next time, you will definitely see it again.Anytime, anywhere.”
For Aslamjon Ortikov, the undefeated record may be gone, but his belief remains intact. Rather than dwelling on a controversial loss, he is already looking ahead to the next challenge and another opportunity to prove himself on the biggest stage.
