Superlek Kiatmoo9 Returns To Muay Thai Rules At ONE Friday Fights 22

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ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 is wasting no time outside of the ring this year as the Thai standout is set for his third consecutive outing of 2023.

This time around, "The Kicking Machine" returns to Muay Thai action to battle a fellow decorated world champion in "the art of eight limbs" in Nabil Anane on the hallowed grounds of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 23, at ONE Friday Fights 22.

Sitting pretty over the division after capturing the vacant ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title against Daniel Puertas at ONE Fight Night 6 by unanimous decision, Superlek's second scrap of the year came in the main event of ONE Fight Night 8 this past March.

The striking ace met Danial Williams in a late-notice contest at the top of the bill, but even the last-minute changes could not throw Superlek off his game. He cruised against Williams before eventually stopping the Australian inside the third round to build on his momentum.

With two kickboxing victories this year, Superlek returns to his Muay Thai bread and butter where he still sits as the #1-ranked contender in the flyweight division. Now, that ranking will be thoroughly tested when he meets the Muay Thai phenom in Anane.

The French-Algerian aggressor will be making his promotional debut when he meets Superlek inside the ring at ONE Friday Fights 22. However, fighting the world's best won't be new to Anane.

Holding a record of 33-4-1, the 19-year-old saw the most successful year of his career in 2022 when he became the youngest WBC Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion in history before doubling his gold to pick up the WBC Lightweight Muay Thai World Title this past February in impressive fashion.

With all the statistics and plenty of momentum to aid him in his ONE debut, including a staggering 7-inch height advantage, Anane will be looking to utilise all those credentials and more in a bid to overthrow Superlek and surge to the top of ONE's flyweight Muay Thai rankings.

For "The Kicking Machine," though, the Muay Thai showdown will be his first outing of the year in this discipline, and he will be keen to keep hold of his divisional positioning on what is shaping up to be the biggest ONE Friday Fights card of the year.