Suakim Returns Against Nabil Anane As ONE Plots Two New Bantamweight Muay Thai Wars
ONE Championship has added two new bantamweight Muay Thai matchups to its upcoming schedule, and both carry genuine divisional weight. The headline announcement pairs a hungry former champion with a fighter in the form of his life.
Former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane faces Suakim Pongsuphan PK in a bantamweight Muay Thai bout at The Inner Circle 25, streaming live for members in Asia primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, August 7.
The card also features the previously announced bantamweight Muay Thai rematch between Abdulla “Smash Boy” Dayakaev and reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek.
Anane arrives at this fight with something to prove. The 22-year-old Algerian-Thai rose from a debut stoppage loss to Superlek in 2023 all the way to undisputed ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion, knocking out Nico Carrillo at ONE 170 for interim gold and avenging that Superlek loss at ONE 172.
His first title defence at The Inner Circle 7 this past March ended in a unanimous decision defeat to Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon. A victory over an opponent on Suakim’s current trajectory would send a loud message to the rest of the division.
That trajectory is formidable. Suakim, 30, is a former three-division Lumpinee Stadium World Champion who has competed more than 200 times and is now producing what may be the most dangerous run of his career.
His seven-fight ONE winning streak features a third-round TKO of Jake Peacock at ONE 173 and a commanding decision over Vladimir Kuzmin at ONE Fight Night 42 in April. He earned his main-roster contract by stopping Komawut at ONE Friday Fights 100 and has not looked back since.
In a separate announcement, Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo will face Dmitrii “The Silent Assassin” Kovtun in bantamweight Muay Thai action at ONE Fight Night 45, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, July 17. Kovtun enters on a two-fight winning streak after outpointing Mohanad Battbootti at ONE Fight Night 42 in April. Lobo is looking to bounce back after dropping a decision to Nontachai Jitmuangnon at ONE Fight Night 43 in May.
The Brazilian has challenged for ONE gold twice and brings the kind of top-level experience that makes him a genuine threat to Kovtun’s rising momentum. For Kovtun, a win over a proven former title challenger would be the clearest statement yet of his divisional ambitions.
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