3 Reasons Why Brice Delval Can Shock Nong-O Gaiyanghadao
Brice “The Truck” Delval would appear to have a near-impossible task when he challenges Nong-O Gaiyanghadao for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title next Friday, 6 September.
The Thai superstar is one of the greatest practitioners of “the art of eight limbs” in history, he has conquered all that have stood before him in ONE Championship so far, and most fans will expect him to defend his belt for the second time at ONE: IMMORTAL TRIUMPH.
However, it would be a mistake to rule out the 20-year-old from Paris, France. Despite his young age, Delval is already an S1 Muay Thai World Champion, and he has shown incredible skill in 33 professional wins against just five defeats.
He also is full of confidence that he can capture the gold inside the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium.
Ahead of this main event match in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, learn how this rising star has the potential to pull off an incredible result from The Home Of Martial Arts’ expert analysts.
#1 Technique
Delval is a product of the Mahmoudi Gym, which has also produced Elias “The Sniper” Mahmoudi.
Like his teammate, “The Truck” is a supreme technician who has a full arsenal of strikes – whether he is on his toes and throwing techniques from the outside, or stepping in to unleash elbows and knees in the clinch.
“If you haven’t seen him before, you are in for an absolute treat come 6 September in Ho Chi Minh City,” says ONE commentator, Michael “The Voice” Schiavello.
“Delval’s quick. Delval’s dangerous. Delval cuts these incredible angles. If there’s one thing you know about French Muay Thai stylists, it’s that they’re slick, and they mix the slickness with work rate, with volume, with output.”
The 20-year-old will also have a height and reach advantage over the defending World Champion, and he knows how to make effective use of his size to land long straight punches and kicks.
He showed prodigious talent when he began to practice martial arts, but through his years at his current gym, and extended trips to Thailand, he has become a competitor that can match tough opposition from anywhere in the world.
“His mom actually helped take him to France to find some of the best coaches and training partners around so that he could be developed into the Muay Thai machine that he has become,” says ONE veteran and commentator Mitch “The Dragon” Chilson.
“It is truly impressive to see where this kid started and see how far he’s come in the world of Muay Thai.”
#2 Creativity
“The Truck” is not afraid to introduce something unorthodox into the mix to surprise his opponents.
Unlike some of his peers who prefer to keep a low center of gravity and take a methodical approach to “the art of eight limbs,” this energetic young athlete has no qualms about launching wild techniques toward his rivals in search of a spectacular finish.
“The French are great artists in whatever they do – be it in poetry, be it in writing, be it in painting. French kickboxers and Muay Thai fighters are no different,” says Schiavello.
“French martial artists are really the guys who put the term art in martial arts, and Brice Delval is no exception.
“When you see Brice Delval in the ring on 6 September in Ho Chi Minh City, you are going to see a young artist at the peak of his artistic powers.”
Expect to see airborne maneuvers, spinning attacks, and possibly even a cartwheel kick as the 20-year-old looks for a way to bring this bout to a stunning early conclusion.
#3 Aggression
As much as Nong-O was brilliant in his latest match-up against Hiroaki Suzuki, his life was made a lot easier because the Japanese challenger stood right in front of him allowed the Thai superstar to take the lead.
That was a recipe for disaster as the Evolve representative hit him over and over again with the tremendous power of his right roundhouse.
That is that last thing you can expect from Delval, who will be active, move forward, and get in his opponent’s face.
Faced with the biggest challenge of his career with the most prestigious prize in martial arts on the line, there is no doubt “The Truck” will come out of his corner in the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium at full throttle in search of a historic victory.
“This French phenomenon really has a tremendous pace that he puts on his opponents, his counter striking is pinpoint accurate, and his hunger to be the very best in the world is second to none,” says Chilson
“Now he has the opportunity to take on a legend to stamp his name in the record books and to take the World Title from one of the very best to ever do it.”
