Superlek Determined to Bring Back His Old Self at The Inner Circle on May 15
Reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion "The Kicking Machine" Superlek has spoken candidly about his difficult 2025 and what it took to find himself again.
The 30-year-old Thai star faces Russian knockout machine Abdulla Dayakaev in a bantamweight Muay Thai clash at The Inner Circle on Friday, May 15, broadcasting live exclusively on live.onefc.com.
Last year was the most turbulent of Superlek's career. He missed weight at bantamweight, was stripped of the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title on the scale, suffered two tough losses, and battled injuries that prevented him from training properly.
For a fighter with big victories over Jonathan Haggerty, Takeru Segawa, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, and Nabil Anane on his resume, the dip was jarring. His 15-3 ONE record and 139-31 career mark still place him among the finest pound-for-pound strikers in the sport, but 2025 raised serious questions about where his career was heading.
Superlek Admits He Lost His Confidence and His Identity in 2025
The Thai champion has not shied away from the truth about what went wrong last year. His honesty about the personal issues behind his struggles gives context to results that surprised fans who had come to expect dominance from one of Thailand's finest ever strikers.
"Last year was tough with injuries, plus I lost my confidence because of several outside issues. It made it so I couldn't train fully or focus 100 percent on each fight. I lost my identity," Superlek confessed.
For a fighter whose entire career has been built around being "The Kicking Machine," arriving at fights without that foundation meant competing as a diminished version of a champion the division had come to fear.
The Thai Says His Head Is Clear and His Goals Are Focused Again
The turnaround began off the canvas before it showed up on the scorecards. Superlek has identified the mental reset as the foundation for whatever comes next, approaching the Dayakaev fight with a clarity he admits was absent throughout last year's struggles.
"I believe I can make a comeback and show better form. One thing is, I've cleared my head. My goals are clear now. My mental state is fine now. Win or lose next fight, I'm staying focused," he explained.
His opponent Dayakaev, 24, carries a 15-2 career record and an 8-2 ONE slate into the fight. The Russian enters the contest off a heartbreaking loss to Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon earlier this year and equally hungry to bounce back with a statement win.
Superlek Promises to Bring Back His True Style Against Dayakaev
The champion has gone beyond simply vowing to perform better. "The Kicking Machine” has named the specific problem, identified the solution, and promised the fans a version of himself they have been waiting to see return.
"This fight, I'm bringing back my true style: the 'Kicking Machine.' In my last few fights, I completely forgot who I was. I barely kicked at all. This time, I'm going back to kicking like I used to, and I've got some tricks ready to close the show," he declared.
A Superlek who rediscovers his kicking game is a dangerous proposition for any bantamweight Muay Thai fighter on the planet. The nickname was earned across a career spent punishing opponents with volume and variety from distance, and his big wins over some of the most celebrated names in ONE Championship were built on exactly that. Dayakaev will find out on May 15 whether the kicking machine has truly been switched back on.
Watch The Inner Circle on Friday, May 15, exclusively on live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT.
