Liam Nolan believed his time on the global stage had come to a close. However, the Brit’s passion could not be denied. On Friday, May 2, “Lethal” returns at ONE Fight Night 31 against Nauzet Trujillo in Bangkok, Thailand.
Liam Nolan Not Ready to Hang Up the Gloves Just Yet
After spending time away reflecting on his desires, Liam Nolan gets the chance to level the score against Trujillo. The two met last February at ONE Fight Night 19, with Trujillo winning by unanimous decision. Nolan opened up about stepping away and deciding to make his return.
“Being out, you start banging your head against the wall. You start thinking about how you haven’t bought a house yet or other areas of life admin. But even when I posted that message on social media, I knew I’d be back. It’s my game. It’s my bread and butter. Even when I was away from fighting, the fire was never out. It was always there,” Liam Nolan recounted to ONE.
Liam Nolan Discusses Phone Call from Sityodtong, Spurring Return to Competition
On the heels of one of ONE Championship’s biggest events, ONE 170, Liam Nolan received a call from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. The big boss championed Nolan’s return in 2025. Once the phone call was finished, the Brit was reinvigorated to return.
“Chatri had just finished ONE 170 and still took the time to reach out and call me the next day. He just asked me what was going on and told me he believed in me. He broke down his story with rising through ONE, and how he started with no money, and how he turned it around. It was an inspiring story. It was a good feeling, having the boss call me like that. He told me he’d get me a fight in May and organize it personally. He was a man of his word. Everything he said he’d do he came through on. So I can’t thank him enough for that,” the Brit said.
While his last performance left him searching for answers, the embers of his love for Muay Thai never were snuffed out. With a plan to make life changes, “Lethal” was in motion with a new positive outlook. Once the love for the “art of eight limbs” is in your blood, it is hard to get out.
“It’s for the love of it. I’m trying to enjoy it. There’s a lot of changes with coaches and routines and trying to get my own house and stuff. I’m going through a lot of transitions, but I’m happy to be back, and I’m enjoying the flow,” Liam Nolan stated.
Liam Nolan Eager to Get Revenge in ONE Championship Return May 2
With his return date now set, Liam Nolan is ready to get back to peak performance. While his ONE tenure has been a rollercoaster ride, he is assured that he has made the adjustments to compete up to his expected level. Leaning on his experience and learning from his mistakes, Nolan is prepared to show the world what he looks like at 100 percent.
“I used to have some amazing fights outside of ONE. People still talk to me about them to this day, but I’ve not quite shown it in ONE to get people talking more about me. I’m sure it’ll come, though. Maybe the style has taken a bit of time to adapt to. I was more of a technical guy, and ONE is more demanding with the smaller gloves. I think it’s just taken more time for me to wrap my head around it,” Nolan remarked.
Entering his athletic prime, Liam Nolan believes he can make a run at ONE gold. That will begin at ONE Fight Night 31 against a familiar foe. Inside Lumpinee Stadium, redemption awaits.
“I was always a slow learner, in everything, even my junior fights. But I’ve fought some of the world’s best in this style with the smaller gloves now. I’m not that 21-year-old kid anymore. So, given time, it will come,” the 27-year-old concluded.
ONE Fight Night 31 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, May 2. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.
