5 Fast Facts About Undefeated ONE Championship Newcomer Mohamed Younes Rabah
Mohamed Younes Rabah is ready to enter ONE Championship in a high-profile battle against #3-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender Saemapetch Fairtex.
This Friday in U.S. primetime, the Algerian debutant will step in to replace the injured Felipe Lobo at ONE Fight Night 17: Kryklia vs. Roberts on Prime Video, and he has everything to gain in this 150-pound catchweight battle against the renowned Fairtex athlete.
Rabah could immediately thrust himself into World Title contention when he meets Saemapetch at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok by earning a victory over one of the biggest names in the sport.
Before his potentially life-changing opportunity this week, get to know the 26-year-old striker with these five fast facts.
#1 He’s Gone 13-0 As A Pro
Rabah didn’t get this shot by chance. The burgeoning Algerian has built a solid record competing around the world, going 13-0 so far as a professional.
While this is certainly a huge step up and the toughest battle of his career, the El Bayadh native is eager to show what he can do on the biggest stage.
He’ll bring bags of confidence and momentum with him into this matchup. Combine that with the size of the opportunity at hand, and he’ll enter more fired up than ever to take a massive scalp in Saemapetch.
#2 He’s Incredibly Tall For His Weight
At 6-foot-2, Rabah will seem like an absolute giant at 150 pounds.
The Algerian will tower 6 inches above his opponent, giving him a significant reach advantage when they come to blows in Bangkok.
It won’t be easy for Saemapetch to make up that disparity, and he’ll need to get through his foe’s long limbs to find a home for his punches.
Rabah is also adamant that he can make the 145-pound limit with more notice, which would make him the tallest bantamweight in ONE history.
#3 He Works Alongside An Elite Team
This might be a step up in class for Rabah in the ring, but he’s no stranger to elite-level competitors.
The 26-year-old trains at Team Mehdi Zatout in Pattaya, Thailand, alongside the likes of former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Alaverdi Ramazanov, former ONE World Title challenger Sinsamut Klinmee, and a host of other top strikers.
Put simply, he knows what it takes to succeed in ONE because he trains with successful athletes on the roster every day.
He even got the chance to work with ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai recently when the latter dropped into Venum Training Camp.
#4 He’s Competed At Big Shows
Rabah has already had some exposure to high-level combat sports events.
The rangy Muay Thai stylist has competed in some of Europe’s biggest striking promotions and has even fought at the famous Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok.
While it’s not quite the same as facing Saemapetch live in U.S. primetime in the world’s largest martial arts organization, he hasn’t faltered yet – and he hopes to continue rising on December 8.
#5 He’s Been Working On His MMA Game
Although Rabah is primarily a striker and will be facing Saemapetch in a stand-up contest, it’s also possible we could see him in ONE’s mixed martial arts ranks at some point.
The Algerian has been training MMA recently, encountering some high-profile names in the sport.
Striking is his priority right now, but other ONE stars have transitioned successfully to the all-around game – most notably, three-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex.
