In Photos: Nabil Anane Unveils A Fresh Look And Full Arsenal At ONE SAMURAI 4 Open Workout
A new haircut signals a fresh start for former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane.
Coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his ONE Championship career, the Algerian-Thai skyscraper returns to kickboxing for a bantamweight showdown with Japanese superstar Yuki Yoza at ONE SAMURAI 4, live from Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Saturday, October 17.
Japanese fans can attend the event in person or watch live via U-NEXT. Meanwhile, international fans can watch the blockbuster spectacle exclusively on live.onefc.com.
This past Wednesday, October 7, Anane welcomed the media to his home base, Venum Training Camp in Pattaya, Thailand, for a high-tempo open workout. He also showed off his shorter hairstyle, the result of a pre-fight vow to shave his head if he lost to Suakim Pongsuphan PK at The Inner Circle 25 in August.
The 22-year-old utilized every inch of his towering 6-foot-4 frame during the pad sessions, unleashing his pterodactyl-like length with rangy hooks, spear-like jabs, laser straight punches, and deceptive question mark kicks that cracked throughout the gym. Anane also flashed his work inside the pocket, chaining uppercuts and short hooks that should prove useful against the forward-pressing Yoza.
Following the intense workout, the Algerian-Thai striker strapped the gloves back on, putting the ONE x Venum global apparel and glove partnership front and center for the cameras.
With ONE SAMURAI 4 less than a week away, he put on his game face and stared down the camera lens with a quiet intensity. Then, he fielded questions from reporters, showing a maturity and poise that belied his age.
Big moments are nothing new for Anane.
The Algerian-Thai phenom became the youngest-ever WBC Muay Thai World Champion at 17 and then made his mark in the promotion with career-defining wins over Nico Carrillo and former two-sport king Superlek to eventually become the undisputed ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion. His latest victory came in kickboxing, where he outpointed Hiromi Wajima in a featherweight contest at ONE 173.
A win over Yoza – a recent World Title challenger – could put Anane in contention for 26 pounds of gold in a second sport. That belt will be on the line in the main event, as ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty defends it against Hiroki Akimoto.
Before he makes the trek back to Tokyo, check out the photos from his open workout in Pattaya.
