Ennahachi Beats Superlek To Retain Belt; Calls Out Rodtang, DJ
Ilias “Tweety” Ennahachi is still the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion, but he was pushed all the way by #2-ranked contender “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE: FISTS OF FURY.
The Dutch-Moroccan made his second defense of the belt at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 26 February, thanks to a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards.
In the first round, it looked like it might be an easy night for Ennahachi, as he seemed to confuse Superlek with his unorthodox movements.
The 24-year-old from Utrecht was never stationary. He moved laterally, switched stances, and picked his punches and low kicks as he moved in and out. By comparison, the Kiatmoo9 product was fairly static and his offense was limited to low kicks.
Superlek, a multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion, did better with his kicks to the defending king’s lead leg in the second stanza, but Ennahachi also continued to have plenty of success. He swarmed forward, pushed the Thai backward, and landed looping punches.
The third round started out in much the same way, but by the halfway point, “The Kicking Machine” started to find his groove.
He began to move forward with purpose and fire off his trademark right roundhouse. It was not long before Ennachachi’s arm and body turned red because of the impact.
However, the Dutch-Moroccan had a check or counter ready for almost every one of his challenger’s attacks.
By the championship rounds, Superlek looked like the dominant athlete and he called Ennahachi to engage with him, but the defending titleholder maintained his evasive strategy and tried to score with counters.
Superlek’s signature right kick was relentless in round five, though “Tweety” never stopped responding with a punch or low kick of his own.
At the final bell, it could have been anyone’s fight, but all three judges scored the match in favor of Ennahachi, and he agreed with the verdict.
“I think I took more points. He kicks a lot, but I moved a lot and landed beautiful combinations,” the World Champion said.
The win meant Ennahachi maintained his perfect slate in ONE Super Series and improved his overall record to 37-3.
It also set him up for a potential super-fight with Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon following the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion’s kickboxing victory earlier in the night.
“Tweety” was happy to accept that challenge, and he even outlined plans for other big matchups in the future.
“Of course, why not? I’m the champion, he’s the champion. Champion versus champion – then you’ll get the big champion,” Ennahachi said following the victory.
“After this fight, when I finish Rodtang, I’ll go to MMA, and I want Demetrious Johnson. Two or three MMA fights, I’ll win all three, and then I want Demetrious Johnson.”
Read more: Full Results For ONE: FISTS OF FURY – Ennahachi Vs. Superlek
