Superlek Vs. Nabil Anane II: 4 Keys To Victory In Muay Thai World Title Unification Fight At ONE 172
This Sunday, March 23, reigning two-sport, two-weight king “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 and interim bantamweight Muay Thai titleholder Nabil Anane will collide in a ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title unification bout that represents the absolute pinnacle of the sport.
Set to go down at the massive ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang inside Japan’s iconic Saitama Super Arena, that pay-per-view showdown will mark the second meeting between these superstar strikers.
They first squared off in June 2023 at ONE Friday Fights 22 when Anane made his hotly anticipated ONE debut at just 19 years old. That night, Superlek unleashed a fury of offense early in the bout, scoring a stunning first-round stoppage.
Since then, the young Thai-Algerian phenom has rattled off six straight wins against top-flight competition, most recently starching Scotland’s Nico Carrillo to claim the interim crown and secure this rematch with “The Kicking Machine.”
Ahead of their epic rematch at ONE 172, we dive into each man’s biggest keys to victory.
#1 Anane’s Intelligent Ring Generalship
Standing at a towering 6-foot-4, it’s no small secret that Anane is most effective when he can maintain the distance and fire off his venomous long-range weapons.
In his loss to Superlek, though, he allowed himself to be consistently backed against the ropes, where his foe could engage in close-range warfare, ultimately leading to the early knockout.
A true student of the game, the 20-year-old has shown marked improvements in his footwork and ring generalship since then, rarely finding himself trapped against the ropes and consistently controlling the center of the ring – an approach he must follow in order to even the score.
#2 Superlek’s Creative Counter-Striking
While “The Kicking Machine” is a true offensive dynamo capable of overwhelming the planet’s best strikers, he’d be wise to take a more patient, counter-striking approach against Anane.
Because the interim king is so tall and possesses such a significant reach advantage, Superlek will likely struggle to lead the dance and land strikes if he’s the first fighter to attack. Instead, he should wait for Anane to open up, then use that opportunity to close the distance and unload counter-strikes.
Look for the pound-for-pound great to employ plenty of fakes and feints to draw out attacks from his foe before pouncing with counters – whether it be punches, kicks, knees, or even elbow strikes in close.
#3 Anane’s Vicious Knees
A well-versed striker at all ranges, Anane can certainly do it all, but his single most dangerous weapons are arguably his knee strikes.
Given his insane height, the youngster’s knees are particularly potent and versatile, as he’s able to easily land them on his opponent’s head from both long-range and in the clinch.
Those brutal knee strikes should play a key role in Anane’s game plan at ONE 172. Not only will they rack up big damage every time they land, but they could also dissuade Superlek from dipping his head or rushing in too quickly.
#4 Superlek’s Trademark Leg Kicks
The 29-year-old Thai is known as “The Kicking Machine” for good reason: He owns one of the best overall kicking games ever seen in Muay Thai.
Just as he did in their first encounter, Superlek will likely look to hammer his foe’s long, thin legs with punishing kicks early and often. And, if their first fight was any indication, these leg kicks could add up quickly and potentially lead to another knockout.
Fans should expect Superlek to employ both inside and outside leg kicks to slow Anane’s movement, help close the distance, and set up the finish as the fight progresses.
