Martin Nguyen working with Dagestani killers and high-level grapplers to prepare for Shamil Gasanov

Former two-division world champion 'The Situ-Asian' Martin Nguyen has a stiff test ahead of him for his next bout. The Vietnamese-Australian fighter has been booked against the undefeated Dagestani wrestler 'The Cobra' Shamil Gasanov.

Martin Nguyen will face Russia's Shamil Gasanov at ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video. The event will go down on February 24 at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium. All the action will be broadcast live and for free on Prime Video for all Amazon subscribers across North America.

To help him prepare for the dangerous grappler, Nguyen trained with some Dagestani wrestlers at the Kill Cliff FC gym in Florida, USA. To explain the situation, 'The Situ-Asian' spoke with SCMP MMA and said:

"In particular, to get ready for an opponent like Shamil [Gasanov], we have some new Dagestani wrestlers and fighters. Just that type of pressure style of wrestling and grappling."

Specifically, Nguyen has been working with athletes such as Abdel Abdelaziz, Sean Soriano, and Nick Lentz. The 33-year-old athlete continued:

"I’ve been working with a lot of them, particularly, with Abdel Abdelaziz. He’s a new guy that just can’t find a fight. In America, no one wants to fight him. I’ve been working a lot with him. A lot with Nick Lentz and obviously Sean Soriano. Just a lot of high level grapplers and strikers, and pressure-style wrestlers. Just getting me ready for [Gasanov]."

Watch the full interview below:

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Martin Nguyen discusses sacrifices

It is not easy competing at the highest levels of MMA. Martin Nguyen discussed some of the sacrifices that had to be made for him to stay relevant in the ONE circle. Nguyen is from Australia but flew halfway around the world to train in Florida, USA, at Kill Clif FC alongside fighters such as Aung La N Sang.

The Vietnamese-Australian fighter was forced to leave his wife and children behind, even over the holiday season, to get ready for his ONE Fight Night 7 matchup. Speaking to SCMP MMA, he said:

The family’s been well. I’ve been away from them for the last eight weeks so I can’t wait to see them. I’m just here sacrificing everything I can and putting everything I can into this fight camp, to put on a show for everyone."