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Casablanca – Algeria’s Nabil Anane scored a historic win against Thai star Superlek Kiatmoo9 who is widely considered the best Muay Thai fighter today.
Anane, who is the interim ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai world champion, put in a world-class performance to dominate the Thai great throughout three rounds of action.
The matchup was scheduled to be a ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai world championship unification bout but it was changed into a three-round bout after Superlek failed his hydration test and was subsequently stripped of his world title.
The 20-year-old Algerian star avenged his debut 2023 loss against “The Kicking Machine” in style, showcasing his growing confidence and power and an improved striking skillset.
This is Anane’s seventh consecutive win in ONE Championship in a run that has seen him capture big victories against notable fighters such as Nico Carrillo, Felipe Lobo, and Soe Lin Oo.
With this win, the youngest ever WBC Muay Thai champion raises his overall professional record to 40-5 and proves he is one of the best Muay Thai athletes in the world today.
After the biggest victory of his career, Anane addressed the fans at the Saitama Super Arena, thanking his family, friends, and coaches, including Mehdi Zatout, and describing the win as “a dream come true”.
“I’m very happy now. My first dream just came true. I’m so happy. I’ve never been this happy in my life before,” Anane said.
ONE 172: Takeru vs Rodtang witnessed four world title matchups that crowned three new champions: ONE Interim Strawweight Kickboxing world champion Jonathan Di Bella, ONE Flyweight MMA world champion Yuya Wakamatsu, and ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing world champion Masaaki Noiri.
The show’s main event also witnessed Thai star Rodtang Jitmuangnon knock out Takeru Segawa in a five-round flyweight kickboxing super-fight.
