‘I Can Fight Anyone’ – Nabil Anane Plans Greater Success In 2026, Discusses Potential Mega Fights
ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane has produced an incredible run in 2025, conquering the Muay Thai world while staying undefeated across two striking disciplines.
But for the 21-year-old superstar, the year was not a destination – it was a foundation for something even bigger in 2026.
Anane clinched the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title before being elevated to undisputed king through a series of stellar performances against elite opposition. Yet he remains driven by a larger ambition to become the king of martial arts across multiple sports and divisions.
Because of that, he plans to carry his momentum straight into the new year.
“If I can do the same thing as 2025, it would be great. 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.
“I’ll just continue working hard. 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.”
When Anane first joined the world’s largest martial arts organization in 2023, expectations followed him closely. At the time, he carried the distinction of being the youngest fighter to win a WBC Muay Thai World Title.
However, his promotional debut lasted just two minutes, as pound-for-pound great “The Kicking Machine” Superlek stopped him in their flyweight Muay Thai encounter.
Rather than folding under the setback, Anane went back to work. He addressed his weaknesses, sharpened his strengths, and rebuilt with patience. The result was a remarkable turnaround – an undefeated run from flyweight to featherweight across eight appearances in Muay Thai and kickboxing.
In 2025 alone, he defeated knockout artist Nico Carrillo in the first round to claim the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title, and then he overcame Superlek to reach undisputed status.
After that, he transitioned into bantamweight kickboxing and dominated former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Ilias Ennahachi before an unfortunate no contest. Following that, he moved up to featherweight to overwhelm former K-1 Champion Hiromi Wajima across three rounds.
After proving himself as the top force in Muay Thai, the Team Mehdi Zatout representative now has his sights set on adding another gold strap – this time in kickboxing.
Anane said:
“Next year, I can fight anyone, just for experience. It’s good because I need more experience in kickboxing also. Now I’m not even in the rankings yet, so I can fight anyone.
“But it makes sense to fight for a [Kickboxing World Title]. I’m a champ, you know, so I think I don’t need to be in the rankings.”
Anane Dissects Possible Encounters With Haggerty, Yoza
While committed to defending his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title this year, Nabil Anane is also carving a path toward another gold belt in kickboxing.
That ambition naturally brings him toward reigning ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty, who has long stood at the opposite end of the division’s striking spectrum.
Anane was initially scheduled to face the British superstar at ONE 173 last November for his Muay Thai crown, but an injury forced Haggerty to withdraw from their highly anticipated clash.
Still, the Algerian-Thai remains open to the matchup in either Muay Thai or kickboxing, and he has already given thought to how that fight might unfold.
He said:
“I think it’s just Haggerty left [in Muay Thai]. Let’s see. I also want to see what happens [when I fight Haggerty]. He has good footwork, he has good elbows, and good punches.”
Widely regarded as one of the U.K.’s most dangerous strikers, Haggerty has consistently brought chaos whenever he steps into the ring.
The former ONE flyweight Muay Thai ruler extended his dominance after moving up in weight, highlighted by a stunning first-round finish of longtime bantamweight king Nong-O Hama in April 2023.
Although “The General” later lost his Muay Thai crown to Superlek at ONE 168: Denver in September 2024, he had already secured divisional gold in kickboxing by defeating then-reigning ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade.
That resume still makes Haggerty a central figure in the division and a matchup Anane is intrigued by:
“It really depends on the moment and how the fight goes.
“Maybe my style matches with his style. Superlek’s style matches with his style and he doesn’t like Superlek’s style. It just really depends on the fighter and how things go in the ring.”
Beyond Haggerty, Anane has also turned his attention to Japanese standout Yuki Yoza, a fighter who surged through 2025 with a string of statement victories.
The former K-1 Champion defeated Elbrus Osmanov, Petchtanong Petchfergus, and Superlek, establishing himself as a frontrunner for a future showdown with Haggerty. While Anane is content to wait, he has not ruled out meeting Yoza down the line.
He said:
“I don’t know what to say [about Yoza’s performances]. I haven’t seen things that impressed me in his style of fighting. He’s strong, yes, that’s what is impressive. But he hasn’t fought someone like me who is really hard to deal with and keeps distance well. Let’s see if he has a chance.
“He’s been talking a lot also, and sometimes it annoys me. Let’s see if he can break my leg.”
