‘I Proved Him Wrong’ – Jonathan Di Bella Recaps Hard-Fought Win Over Zhang Peimian At The Inner Circle 22
Italian-Canadian striking prodigy Jonathan Di Bella reminded the global fanbase exactly why he wears the undisputed crown at The Inner Circle 22, which went down this past Friday, July 17.
The 29-year-old titleholder successfully defended his ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship against Chinese phenom “Fighting Rooster” Zhang Peimian inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, delivering a five-round classic that headlined the subscriber-only Asia primetime card on live.onefc.com.
Di Bella overcame his surging rival in their high-stakes rematch via unanimous decision, surviving a blistering firefight that pushed both warriors to their absolute physical limits across 15 breathtaking minutes.
Given how tightly contested their first encounter was four years ago, the Montreal slugger entered this highly anticipated sequel with a specific point to prove.
The Team Di Bella Kickboxing representative told onefc.com:
“The victory felt good. [Our] first fight was a close match, and this fight was a close match as well. From the first fight, everybody was saying he was lucky. So I proved him wrong tonight.
“I knew he was gonna come out strong. But I just stayed smart. However, I decided to go for a brawl to give the fans a show. I wanted to give fans an entertaining fight.”
Indeed, the reigning king and the “Fighting Rooster” delivered a genuine spectacle in the “Madison Square Garden of the East” last week. Both men traded at a relentless pace from the opening bell, refusing to feel each other out before letting their heavy hands go.
While Zhang found moments of brilliant success with his explosive combinations, Di Bella’s elite composure and championship mettle ultimately tipped the scales, allowing him to find the cleaner, fight-altering counters when it mattered most.
Looking back, he struggled to single out one exact moment where the fight tilted in his favor, though a few distinct exchanges stood out more than others.
Di Bella said:
“I think it was the fifth round where I hurt him the most. I dropped him, threw his mouthpiece out, and I saw his face change. But I feel like even around two or three, I feel like I hurt him. I buzzed him because he went into the ropes. I saw his face busted.
“But I still don’t know what round it was. All I know was that he came to fight, so he’s always gonna give trouble.”
With the win, the 29-year-old has now built a commanding 2-0 lead in his fierce rivalry with Zhang. It was the absolute icing on the cake for the lifelong New York Knicks fan, who watched the team capture its first NBA Championship in 53 years just slightly over a month earlier.
While he is not entirely opposed to running it back a third time with the Shengli Fight Club and Tiger Muay Thai affiliate, his priorities currently lie elsewhere.
Di Bella, now a five-time ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion, added:
“For sure, we’d meet again in the future. But I beat him twice now, so I want new meat. I fought two rematches back-to-back. I want to fight some Japanese champions, and if I get an opportunity to go up in division, I’ll take it.
“It’s a risky move for me, but I will do it. In this sport, you gotta take risks. If I get it, I won’t say no.”
Di Bella Looks Ahead, Targets Two-Division Supremacy
That burning desire to test himself against fresh, elite competition does not stop at any one name. Di Bella made it crystal clear that his search extends well beyond ONE Championship’s current world-class roster.
With the world’s largest martial arts organization recently acquiring a massive wave of decorated Japanese talent — ranging from rising prospects to established veterans carrying pedigree from outside promotions — Di Bella views this influx as a golden opportunity rather than a threat.
He is eager to prove exactly why ONE athletes stand head and shoulders above the rest.
The Italian-Canadian said:
“I just know there are champions from other organizations that are very good, so I want to test myself with them. The best of the best is right here. ONE Championship is the best of the best.
“But I just want to give the fans the best show. And especially in Japan, big stadiums and big arenas and big fights. So I want to fight their champions in ONE Championship.”
Should he not get his wish to welcome Japan’s finest into the fold, the strawweight kickboxing king has an equally compelling, high-stakes alternative in mind. A move up a weight class would put him on a direct collision course with ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek.
However, Di Bella is not interested in taking the scenic route to two-division glory. Climbing the flyweight rankings and waiting his turn holds zero appeal.
He concluded:
“I see the champion, and I want the champion. I feel like I deserve the champion. If I go to flyweight, Superlek’s the champ.
“I haven’t seen him fight in flyweight in a long time, but of course, that would be a good fight. It’s [his] kicks [that will be dangerous], for sure. Superlek is the kicking machine, so I will have to be ready for his kicks.”
