Ivan Parshikov has been a standout MMA competitor in the ONE Friday Fights event series, which airs in Asia primetime each week from Bangkok, Thailand.
Since making his promotional debut in February, the 25-year-old Russian has amassed a perfect 3-0 record, and he’s looking to extend that unbeaten streak when he meets BJJ black belt Ben Royle at ONE Friday Fights 40 on November 10.
Before Parshikov steps into the ring for his fourth appearance at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, let’s break down the skill set that has made him a name to watch in the bantamweight MMA ranks.
#1 Strong Striking
Parshikov’s first outing against his compatriot Dmitriy Babkin at ONE Friday Fights 3 gave the best insight into his stand-up repertoire with long periods of striking action.
The Phuket Fight Club representative worked behind a solid jab that found a home while setting up his overhand rights and left hooks.
He also showed his kicking game both offensively and defensively, punctuating combinations with low kicks and using his left body kick when Babkin charged in with punches.
Notably, Parshikov didn’t control all the action but still persevered. His strong chin was evident, as he absorbed Babkin’s thudding left hooks yet managed to stay on his feet.
#2 Takedowns Crafted Over A Lifetime Of Training
Starting his martial arts journey with judo and then sambo, Parshikov has built a strong repertoire of takedowns since he was a child.
He can shoot for doubles from the outside and is equally comfortable working from the clinch.
This means that if his initial shot gets stuffed, the Russian has different ways to get his rival to the canvas – in particular, his trips.
#3 A Smashing Top Game
When Parshikov is on top, he’s hard to move and aggressive with his offense.
His stifling pressure makes it hard for his opponent to get back up, and when their back is pinned to the canvas, he’ll do some of his best work.
He’s not focused on passing like a traditional grappler. Instead, he looks to create opportunities for ground-and-pound, which can then result in more dominant positions.
Lianyang Xia found this out at ONE Friday Fights 17 when Parshikov drilled him with heavy ground strikes from inside the guard before sealing the deal via TKO when he advanced into mount.
#4 Crafty Submissions
Of his 12 career victories, the 25-year-old athlete has finished four via submission, and he has a crafty ground game that comes from his background in sambo.
The Russian martial art features a lot of leg locks that can come from anywhere. Parshikov showcased this when Yu Karino got out to his back in a standing position at ONE Friday Fights 10.
Despite seemingly being in a bad spot, Parshikov turned the tables by rolling through for a kneebar to secure the tap in just 50 seconds.
