‘A Heart That Refuses To Lose’ – Suakim Seeks Massive Upset Against Nabil Anane At The Inner Circle 25
Former three-division Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Suakim Pongsuphan PK has seen everything the sport can throw at a man across his remarkable 216-fight career, but nothing quite like what awaits him at The Inner Circle 25.
On Friday, August 7, the resurgent Thai veteran looks to extend his inspiring career rebirth against former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane. This high-stakes main event World Title eliminator goes down live in Asia primetime from Lumpinee Stadium, exclusively for subscribers at live.onefc.com.
Having not tasted defeat since April 2024, Suakim boasts a seven-bout winning streak that stands as the longest active run in the division, with four of those victories coming by spectacular stoppage.
That stunning resurgence includes impressive finishes over Deniz “Bad Boy” Demirkapu and Panrit Lukjaomaesaiwaree, a life-changing six-figure contract-winning TKO of Komawut FA Group, and a US$50,000 performance bonus-earning finish of Jake “The One” Peacock.
Now operating at the absolute peak of his powers, the 30-year-old veteran could not hide his astonishment at the sheer magnitude of his next assignment.
He told onefc.com:
“To be honest, I was shocked. The hype around this matchup is huge, which boosts my profile and gives me a chance to test myself against an elite-level champion.
“ONE probably sees something in me. They want to put me against top-tier opponents to see what I’m truly capable of. And I’m going out there to prove that I can hang with him.”
While the initial surprise has settled, the reality of his daunting challenge certainly has not. Anane has already outclassed some of the biggest names in the promotion, including ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek and reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico “King of the North” Carrillo.
The towering 22-year-old’s extraordinary stature and versatility make him dangerous at every range. Neutralizing that immense threat will require the absolute finest version of Suakim that he has ever produced.
The PK Saenchai Muaythaigym representative said:
“If I can get past Nabil, I won’t have to fear anyone in this division, though I know it’s going to be extremely tough.
“He’s huge, long, fast, and completely well-rounded. He can brawl or fight technical. His biggest strength is when he catches your head and throws knees.”
Although Suakim is by no means a small fighter for the weight class, he finds himself staring up at a massive eight-inch height disadvantage against the 6-foot-4 Thai-Algerian titan.
While most athletes would tread carefully in this position, Suakim is wired differently. That spectacular seven-fight surge was built on relentless forward pressure, and he has absolutely no intention of abandoning those instincts under the brightest lights of his career.
He stated:
“I’ve never fought anyone this tall. This is the first time I’m at such a huge physical disadvantage. In the first round, I’ll need to gauge his range and timing to see how far his strikes reach. I can’t just rush in recklessly because he’s big and hits hard.
“I’ve got nothing to lose. I just need to give it my absolute best, make sure he knows I’m a fighter, and show him I can compete.”
Suakim Backs His Power To Bridge The Gap Against Nabil Anane
Suakim Pongsuphan PK has spent this entire camp solving a physical puzzle most fighters would never dare face head-on. Every single training session has been deliberately constructed around neutralizing Nabil Anane’s exceptional length, with targeted contingencies drilled into every corner of his strategic blueprint.
His aggressive, forward-moving style is the perfect antithesis of what the former titleholder typically thrives on. Where Anane expertly utilizes distance, Suakim purposefully closes it.
He explained:
“Punching upward feels completely different than punching at eye level. It tires your arms out much faster and makes striking harder, but I’ve adjusted to it now.
“I believe my strikes are heavy. If a shot lands clean, no matter whose punch it is, anyone can get hurt or go down. I just need that punch to hit the target square on.”
Suakim knows Anane enters this Friday desperate to reclaim his path to the man who dethroned him, reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon.
Driven by the exact same unyielding spirit that powered his incredible career turnaround, Suakim arrives fully prepared to turn the biggest night of his professional life into the first definitive step toward his ultimate dream of twenty-six pounds of gold.
The multi-division Lumpinee Stadium World Champion offered:
“This win would be massive — probably the most important victory of my life. It’s not even about getting a title shot or a ranking. Just beating Nabil would be huge on its own. That would feel amazing.
“[He can expect] a heart that refuses to lose, walking forward and grinding it out against him. I’m a huge underdog in size and height, but in the ring, I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”
