‘I Have A Fire Inside Me’ – Superlek Targets Finish, Anar Mammadov Seeks Redemption At ONE Friday Fights 178
Superlek Jitmuangnon puts his unblemished ONE Championship record on the line against Azerbaijani powerhouse Anar “Atilla” Mammadov in a pivotal bantamweight Muay Thai clash at ONE Friday Fights 178. The action broadcasts live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, November 13.
The 23-year-old Thai striker representing Jitmuangnon Gym is actively chasing a life-changing US$100,000 contract with the world’s largest martial arts organization. Standing directly in his path is the 30-year-old Mammadov, a dangerous veteran desperate to crash back into the win column after a recent skid.
Both men enter the ring fueled by clear, opposing purposes. Superlek aims to leverage his growing momentum into a lucrative main roster deal, while Mammadov, training out of Venum Training Camp and Team Mehdi Zatout, is determined to prove his blistering debut form was no fluke.
Superlek Is Ready To Raise The Level
Superlek made his promotional debut in 2023, grinding out a unanimous decision over Myanmar veteran Sonrak Fairtex. After a brief hiatus, he returned in 2026 to capture a second decision victory, pushing his impressive professional record to 61-16.
However, merely logging wins is no longer enough. Both of those triumphs required the judges’ scorecards, and the young Thai tactician fully understands that highlight-reel finishes are what ultimately secure six-figure contracts.
Superlek told onefc.com:
“I want to be a bit more aggressive when going for the finish and make it better than before. My mindset is great right now, inspired by the people around me. I feel like I have a fire inside me, and everything is ready.”
That internal fire is backed by meticulous preparation. Superlek has studied his rival’s recent ONE appearances extensively and maintains a healthy respect for what he saw on tape.
He credits Mammadov with heavy body and head punches, a classic kickboxing rhythm, and legitimate speed and power. Yet, he also believes he has uncovered a glaring weakness in how the Azerbaijani handles sustained forward pressure.
He added:
“Anar is a dangerous fighter. But judging from his last three fights in ONE, his weakness seems to be his endurance when under relentless pressure. He has good body and head punches, typical kickboxing style. He has great speed and power.”
That sharp read heavily dictates his game plan. Superlek holds a distinct reach advantage and fully intends to weaponize it, landing steady strikes to wear Mammadov down before pulling the trigger on a finish.
Still, he refuses to take the danger lightly, knowing Mammadov possesses the raw power to end any contest with a single clean shot.
The Jitmuangnon Gym standout said:
“I have the reach advantage. We both hit hard, but if I keep landing strikes continuously, he will slow down. Once he shows signs of damage, I’ll push forward and go for it. I want to bring my best version. But I can’t be careless because we can both hurt each other. I can’t guarantee 100 percent, but compared to my last fight, I’d say I’ve leveled up two or three steps higher.”
Mammadov Looks To Get Back On Track
Anar Mammadov’s ONE tenure has featured two drastically different chapters. He announced his arrival with a brutal second-round TKO of Komawut FA Group, only to endure a difficult stretch that resulted in back-to-back defeats. Returning to his winning ways is his absolute priority on November 13.
He is intimately familiar with Superlek’s recent body of work. The Thai striker defeated Othman “The Ironside” Rhouni in his most recent outing, and Rhouni happens to train in the exact same gym as Mammadov.
Mammadov told onefc.com:
“Superlek is a good fighter. In his last fight, I was there, I was watching him. He defeated my friend in the same gym. He’s good with his kicks. He’s a technical fighter.”
That mutual respect has influenced his approach to this fight. Mammadov plans to establish a safer operating distance early, exercise patience, and let the openings naturally present themselves rather than aggressively forcing the action. Following a rough divisional run, strict discipline remains at the core of his game plan.
He is certainly not shy about his ultimate intentions, however. He knows his punching power is a genuine equalizer and that a single explosive moment can flip the script — a hardened mentality forged through the bitter lessons of his own recent defeats.
Mammadov explained:
“I think I should start a little bit further and try to see an opening and use our chance against our opponents. We need to take our time, study our opponent, and yeah, we don’t need to rush.”
While scoring a spectacular finish remains firmly on his mind, Mammadov is keeping his focus incredibly tight. He refuses to look past November 13 or call out future opponents, remaining deeply realistic about the inherent risks of a sport where any athlete can be separated from their consciousness in an instant.
He concluded:
“I have the ability to knock him out. I can knock other guys out, and I can also be knocked out. This is a sport, and it’s a tough sport, actually.
“If I knock him out, I can’t think of any names right now because I don’t think about other opponents. I just get ready for the next fight. That’s my mentality. I just need to be ready for the next fight.”
