Denis Souza Jr. Injured, Yi Yuxuan Steps In To Face Elbrus Osmanov At ONE Fight Night 48
· Yahoo Sports
ONE Championship has confirmed a change to a previously scheduled bantamweight kickboxing match at ONE Fight Night 48: Erdogan vs. Elliott on Prime Video.
Explosive Russian fighter Elbrus “The Samurai” Osmanov was originally slated to face Denis “Denizinho” Souza Jr., but an injury to the Brazilian rising star has forced him to withdraw from the card.
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Stepping in to fill the void is Chinese kickboxing standout Yi Yuxuan, setting up an intriguing showdown when the two strikers meet at the event, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, October 2.
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For Osmanov, the switch in opponents doesn’t diminish the magnitude of his upcoming U.S. primetime debut.
The 25-year-old, who represents Venum Training Camp and Akhmat Kickboxing, owns an impressive 15-1 career striking record with nine victories in ONE Championship across both Muay Thai and kickboxing.
Osmanov’s promotional journey began with a run of dominance at ONE Friday Fights, where he claimed six consecutive kickboxing victories before suffering his first career loss against Japanese veteran Yuki Yoza in May 2025. Instead of dwelling on that setback, the Russian transitioned to Muay Thai competition, where he proceeded to defeat three world-class Thai adversaries in succession.
His most recent performance provided the signature moment of his career thus far. Osmanov secured a first-round knockout victory over “Left Meteorite” Ratchasiesan Laochokcharoen, formerly known as Kulabdam. That earned him a life-changing US$100,000 contract and global roster spot with the world’s largest martial arts organization.
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The man stepping in to face him on short notice is no easy assignment. Yi is a 25-year-old Chinese kickboxer with a remarkable 56-5-1 record, a ledger that places him among the most talented young strikers in Asia.
His trophy cabinet includes the 2023 WLF 65-Kilogram Tournament Championship, the 2024 WLF 67-Kilogram Tournament Championship, and the 2026 ISKA 67-Kilogram Title, among several other notable accolades.
Yi has defeated virtually every significant name in his weight class on the Chinese scene, including Zhou Jiaqiang, two-time National Kickboxing Champion Wang Penghui, and reigning WLF Champion Er Kang.
A fighter who has won at a high level against that caliber of opposition is not stepping in merely to fill a spot on the card. Yi arrives at ONE Fight Night 48 with the credentials and the confidence of a man who is ready to make his mark on the global stage.
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Osmanov’s opportunity to make a statement in his U.S. primetime debut remains very much intact, albeit against a completely different type of threat than originally anticipated.
For Yi, a victory over “The Samurai” in his promotional debut would send a big message to the stacked weight class. Defeating a fighter who has dismantled world-class opposition across two striking disciplines would put the entire bantamweight kickboxing division on notice from day one.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE Fight Night 48: Erdogan vs. Elliott on Prime Video.