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Hussein Salem made a thunderous first impression in his ONE Championship debut, kicking off ONE 171 with a spectacular knockout. The seven-time UAE Warriors veteran squared off against Walter Cogliandro in the opening bout at Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar, and he wasted no time in making a statement.
About halfway through the first round, Salem uncorked a brutal left hand, sending Cogliandro crashing to the canvas, unconscious. The referee immediately stepped in, waving off the fight at the 2:25 mark of Round 1.
With this highlight-reel finish, Salem improved his professional record to 12-5. His recent form has been nothing short of dominant—he has now won two in a row and five of his past six bouts. More impressively, he has finished all 12 of his professional victories inside the distance, proving himself to be a relentless finisher inside the cage.
Remarkably, Salem hasn’t seen a third round in nearly four years, further solidifying his reputation as a dangerous striker who wastes no time once the fight begins. His powerful performance in his ONE Championship debut positions him as a rising force in the organization’s ranks.
For Walter Cogliandro, the defeat marks another setback in his career. The SBG Ireland-trained fighter, who has also competed in Bellator and UAE Warriors, has now suffered three consecutive losses. Despite his experience, he was unable to withstand the sheer power of Salem’s striking on fight night.
With this stunning performance, Hussein Salem has put the ONE Championship roster on notice, showing that he is a legitimate threat in the division.