In Photos: Nabil Anane And Abdulla Dayakaev Preview Their Skills At Open Workout Ahead Of The Inner Circle 25

Former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane and Russian knockout machine Abdulla “Smash Boy” Dayakaev put their striking prowess on full display during an open workout at Venum Training Camp in Pattaya, Thailand, this past Monday, July 27.

The Team Mehdi Zatout stablemates spoke to media ahead of their respective bouts at The Inner Circle 25, which will stream exclusively via live.onefc.com from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, August 7.

In the headline attraction of The Inner Circle 25, Anane will face former three-division Lumpinee Stadium World Champion Suakim Pongsuphan PK in the bantamweight Muay Thai main event. Meanwhile, Dayakaev will square off against reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek in a bantamweight Muay Thai rematch of their May encounter.

Anane: The Road Back To Gold

Anane steps into the main event of The Inner Circle 25 with redemption firmly on his mind. 

The towering 6-foot-4 Algerian-Thai phenom owns a 41-6 career record and an impressive 8-2 mark in ONE Championship, having rebounded from a debut loss to reel off eight straight victories. That phenomenal run included a World Title reign that established him as the undisputed king of the bantamweight Muay Thai division.

Anane’s momentum came to a grinding halt this past March, when Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon dethroned him and claimed the gold.

Now, a victory over the battle-hardened Suakim would earn the 22-year-old skyscraper a ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title rematch against the man who defeated him for the belt.

Dayakaev: Leaving No Doubt

Dayakaev, meanwhile, enters the co-main event with momentum of a different kind. 

The 24-year-old Dagestani holds a 16-3 career record with 11 finishes and has gone 9-2 in the promotion, and along the way, he has developed a reputation as one of the most explosive knockout artists in the division. At The Inner Circle 14 this past May, he earned a razor-close split-decision victory over Superlek in a war that had fans and pundits divided. 

Critics questioned the verdict, and Dayakaev has heard every word. On August 7, the Russian destroyer intends to leave no doubt, and another win over the pound-for-pound great could push him into the World Title conversation.

Before these stars from Team Mehdi Zatout lock horns in their respective bouts at The Inner Circle 25, here are some photos from their recent open workout session.