Nabil Anane wants kickboxing title opportunities after defeating Yuki Yoza at ONE SAMURAI 4, and the former Muay Thai champion could be heading toward another shot at gold.
Anane defeated Yoza by unanimous decision in their bantamweight kickboxing bout at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, Oct. 17. The victory marked the 42nd win of his professional career and snapped a two-fight losing streak.
The result could also put the 22-year-old in contention for a shot at ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Haggerty. Yoza had gone the distance with Haggerty at ONE SAMURAI 1 less than six months earlier, making Anane’s performance worth watching.
Anane controlled the opening round with knees to the body before Yoza responded with calf kicks in the second and third rounds. Although some observers believed Yoza gained momentum late in the fight, Anane insisted that he remained in control throughout.
“The third round, I know I won. I was just being careful. I didn’t want to get knocked down or something. Nothing was wrong with the third round or the first or second,” Anane said.
“The fight was the same as I was doing sparring in training. I am used to training with many people. They come at me, they try to do calf kicks. Everything worked well.”
Haggerty later defended his kickboxing title with a stoppage victory over Hiroki Akimoto, but Anane’s win over Yoza could help him earn a shot at the champion.
However, a kickboxing title fight is not the only possibility on the table.
ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong has also raised the possibility of Anane moving up to featherweight to challenge Nico Carrillo for the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title.
