Nabil Anane didn’t just win titles in 2025, he announced himself as the future of elite striking. At just 21, the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion delivered a flawless run across Muay Thai and kickboxing, turning a breakout year into a statement of long-term ambition.
Nabil Anane captured the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title before earning undisputed status through dominant performances against world-class opposition. His rise feels even more remarkable when viewed against where it all began.
When Anane made his ONE debut in 2023, the spotlight came fast and so did adversity. Pound-for-pound great Superlek stopped him inside two minutes in a flyweight Muay Thai bout. Instead of breaking him, the loss reset his mindset.
Rather than folding, Nabil Anane went back to work. He tightened his defense, refined his distance control, and rebuilt with discipline. The payoff followed quickly: an undefeated stretch across eight fights, spanning flyweight to featherweight in both Muay Thai and kickboxing.
In 2025, Anane knocked out feared finisher Nico Carrillo in the opening round to secure interim gold. He then avenged his earlier loss by defeating Superlek to become the undisputed champion. From there, he crossed into bantamweight kickboxing and dominated former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Ilias Ennahachi before an unfortunate no contest. He capped the year by overpowering former K-1 Champion Hiromi Wajima at featherweight.
“If I can do the same thing as 2025, it would be great,” Anane said. “There is no secret to my success. I’ll just continue to work hard and have discipline all the time, that’s it. It’s easy to know how, but it’s hard to do.”
He added, “Behind the scenes, behind all the victories, it’s always very hard. There are always some small problems every time. You just have to surpass them, and good things will come after.”
With Muay Thai dominance secured, Nabil Anane now turns his attention to kickboxing gold. That path naturally points toward reigning ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Haggerty. Their planned clash at ONE 173 fell apart due to injury, but Anane remains open to settling the score in either ruleset.
“I think it’s just Haggerty left [in Muay Thai],” Anane said. “He has good footwork, good elbows, and good punches. It really depends on the moment and how the fight goes. Maybe my style matches his style.”
He also addressed rising Japanese standout Yuki Yoza, who impressed many with wins over elite names in 2025.
“He’s strong, yes, that’s impressive,” Anane said. “But he hasn’t fought someone like me who keeps distance well and is really hard to deal with. Let’s see if he has a chance.”
For Nabil Anane, 2025 wasn’t the finish line. It was proof of concept. And as he eyes titles across disciplines.
