Reigning ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion Nabil Anane enjoyed a night to remember in his featherweight debut at ONE 173 in Tokyo, Japan, but the Thai-Algerian admits he didn’t feel at the peak of his abilities in the fight. The 21-year-old Team Mehdi Zatout slugger welcomed promotional newcomer and former K-1 champion Hiromi Wajima to the promotion in a featherweight kickboxing duel inside the Ariake Arena on November 16. Anane didn’t waste a split second going to work, pushing the Japanese slugger with teeps down the middle while utilizing his height and reach advantage to set the tone in the first frame. He increased his output in the second round, finding ways to create angles and land at will against Wajima, who seemed to struggle against the Thai-Algerian’s rangy weapons. Anane continued his onslaught in the third and final stanza, relying on the same tactics to find a home for all of his attacks on his way to a comfortable unanimous decision nod, his first kickboxing triumph on the global stage. Speaking to Nick Atkin following his win, Nabil Anane revealed that his performance in Tokyo left plenty to be desired. “It was good, but I need to be stronger. I feel it. It wasn’t really the same when I fight in bantamweight, you know. When I’m in bantamweight, I’m more comfortable because it’s my weight, you know,” the ONE world champion offered. Watch the Thai-Algerian striker’s full interview with Nick Atkin here: Nabil Anane down to tango with Yuki Yoza in ONE Championship In the same interview with the combat sports correspondent, Nabil Anane said he’ll be ready to face Yuki Yoza next, who outpointed ‘The Kicking Machine’ Superlek Kiatmoo9 in his own bantamweight kickboxing tiff at ONE 173. “Let’s see, man. Let’s see what he [Chatri Sityodtong] gives me for the next fight. And I saw the fight from Superlek and Yuki. Superlek didn’t know, didn’t really know what to do, you know. Good fight for Yuki. Maybe in the future, let’s see each other,” the Team Mehdi Zatout star stated. Fight fans who missed any of the action from ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri can follow this link to secure their PPV replay passes.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-nabil-anane-admits-more-comfortable-at-bantamweight-i-need-to-be-stronger
