The Thai-Algerian stepped up on a matter of weeks’ notice to face Nico Carrillo, and he made the most of his opportunity by sparking out the No. 2-ranked contender this past Friday at Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena to be crowned the interim champ.
In addition, he’s booked himself a date against two-sport, two-division ONE world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9. He’ll get the chance to unify the gold in a rematch two years in the making at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang, on Sunday, March 23.
When they first met at ONE Friday Fights 22 in June 2023, Superlek earned the first-round stoppage over the then-18-year-old rising star. But two years on, the six-foot-four giant feels he’s well-equipped for a second duel.
“First of all, I want to thank Superlek for giving me the opportunity to know what a world-class athlete is like,” Anane said at the post-fight press conference.
“I’ve been improving myself since that loss with Superlek, and I’ve been training very hard, and I’m ready to face him.”
Toppling a certified striking superstar in Carrillo was a career-best performance for Anane, and he felt every ounce of the jubilation in the immediate aftermath.
It’s no small feat to attain gold in the world’s largest martial arts organization – let alone to do so at the age of 20. Anane believes the fruit of his labour is beginning to show, and if the opportunity to score another scintillating knockout presents itself, he won’t hesitate to strike when the iron is hottest.
“At first, I was very, very excited, and I haven’t felt this excited since I was a very young boy. And I feel like I went back and became a young boy again for this fight,” Anane professed.
“But whatever happens, I know that I have to dedicate a hundred percent to this fight. I didn’t expect a knockout completely, but I said that if there’s an opening and there’s an opportunity to do so, I will go for it.”
