Superlek Kiatmoo9 crushed Nabil Anane at ONE Friday Fights 22 and now will have a quick turnaround to compete in the main event of ONE Fight Night 12 on Friday, July 14. The Thai star will battle Tagir Khalilov in Bangkok to continue to keep hold of his #1-ranked in the flyweight division.
Superlek Aims for Quick Turn around Win at ONE Fight Night 12
The short turnaround was no problem for the top-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender. After a few days, he was right back in the gym to stay in shape. The call soon came to be the headliner, and the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion took the opportunity to stay active.
“I didn’t have any injuries from the last fight. So, I have no problem to continue my training. Fortunately, the last fight I was able to do according to my game plan. So, I hardly got hurt and [could get] ready for my next fight with Tagir,” Superlek told ONE Championship.
The quick return to Lumpinee Boxing Stadium has only invigorated the 27-year-old even more. Superlek loved returning to “the art of eight limbs” and the iconic venue last month, and he is even more happy to step back inside its hallowed halls. As one to never shy away from a challenge, it was an easy decision for Superlek.
“Of course, I’m not a picky person. I never turned down any opponent or opportunity that ONE offered to me. I just accept and train for the fight. If I don’t have injuries, I’m ready to fight with everyone. I’m always ready for new challenges,” Superlek said.
In staying active, Superlek has also refocused on getting quick finishes on the global stage. That was evident with his swift knockout of Anane in his last outing. It is a source of constant improvement for the Thai striker.
That refocused energy is why Superlek says he has a present for the Russian in their upcoming main event battle. The 27-year-old has been breaking down film to pinpoint weaknesses in his opponent. He feels that he knows how to exploit and finish the rising star.
“I have prepared a lot. I can see many holes in him. I have already prepared something for him. I know he is good with his punches, so I prepared something to deal with his hands. We will all see that in the ring. I still believe in myself. I believe in my hard work. Let’s see if it works there in the ring,” the flyweight contender said.
If he gets the finish he envisions, Superlek still wants a shot at Jonathan Haggerty. After his last win, the Thai athlete made his callout of the new ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion. Although he is locked in on ONE Fight Night 12, Superlek is doubling down on his callout should he continue to shine under the bright lights.
“I won’t say that I want to be his first challenger, but I want to test my skills with him. He’s someone powerful enough to KO Nong-O [Gaiyanghadao], so I want to test his strength. I want to challenge myself as well. If he wants to fight with me in the bantamweight division, I’m ready for him anytime,” Superlek said.
ONE Fight Night 12 airs live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The action emanates from Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The event will be free for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada.
