Elias Mahmoudi Promises To Win 'All-Out War' Against Petchdam

If Elias “The Sniper” Mahmoudi can deliver on his prediction, his battle with “The Baby Shark” Petchdam Petchyindee Academy could be the bout of the night at ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT.

The Algerian striker will take on the Thai superstar in his hometown of Bangkok, Thailand for the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title in the co-main event at the Impact Arena.

There is no bigger prize in martial arts than a ONE World Championship, and Mahmoudi has earned his shot through years of hard work and sacrifice to become an elite competitor.

“I’m extremely proud to fight for this World Title,” he says.

“It is not only this fight, but the result of all those years of sacrifices, and my results that have opened those doors for me.”

The 21-year-old entered ONE Championship as a three-time Muay Thai World Champion with a formidable reputation. He then delivered a stunning three-round striking clinic over Yukinori Ogasawara to cement his top-contender status on the global stage for martial arts.

He dominated his Japanese opponent with every possible weapon – punches, kicks, knees, elbows, sweeps and, trips. However, though it was one-way traffic for the duration of the contest, “The Sniper” believes he can get a better result against Petchdam.

“I’m satisfied with my performance, but I would have preferred to win by knockout,” Mahmoudi admits.

If he wants to secure a stoppage in this battle of young superstars, however, the 21-year-old is likely to have to face much more firepower from the most explosive ONE Super Series performer to date.

Petchdam is 3-0 with three knockout victories so far, so Mahmoudi knows he will have to be wary of the dangerous strikes coming his way – though all his scouting information comes from his trainers, while he dedicates his time to honing his own outstanding offense.

“I didn’t look at any of Petchdam’s fights. It is my coach’s job to look and prepare a game plan. They tell me he has a great left leg,” he says.

“I don’t think there is anything special about him, but if he’s standing in front of me for this World Title shot, then it is because he deserves it. At ONE Championship, I have seen that there are no shortcuts or presents – you get what you truly deserve.”

The resident of Paris, France will go into the hostile territory in Bangkok, as thousands of Thai fans will cheer in unison for his opponent. That will not make his life any easier in the ring, but he believes it will not stop him from getting his hand raised.

“I don’t really have any advantages because I will fight in his country,” says Mahmoudi.

“I had some really bad experiences in the past with other organizations where local judges became blind during the fight. Fortunately, ONE judges are professional and judge impartially.”

Despite the noise from the fans, “The Sniper” knows it will all come down to how he performs against “The Baby Shark” when the opening bell rings, and the best man will leave with the World Championship belt around their waist.

Mahmoudi is more motivated than ever to get his hands on the prize, so he vows to deliver a thrilling performance that will kickstart a dominant reign in The Home Of Martial Arts.

“I promise you that it will be an all-out war,” he says.

“[Winning the World Title] is the pinnacle, but my goal is not only to reach the summit, but to stay on top as long as possible,” he states.