‘I Want To Clear My Name’ – Abdulla Dayakaev Fired Up To Settle Superlek Rivalry At The Inner Circle 25
Abdulla “Smash Boy” Dayakaev and “The Kicking Machine” Superlek’s first meeting gave fight fans plenty to talk about long after the final bell. This time, the Russian standout intends to make absolutely sure their high-stakes rematch at The Inner Circle 25 leaves no room for debate.
The 24-year-old star and the iconic Thai striker renew their intense rivalry in a bantamweight Muay Thai matchup, broadcasting live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s revered Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, August 7. The blockbuster card will be exclusively available to subscribers at live.onefc.com.
Their first encounter delivered every bit of the action fans expected. Dayakaev shocked the world by dropping the reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion for an eight-count in the opening round. The dynamic striker continued his forward pressure throughout the match, but Superlek’s sharp, veteran counter-attacking game made life incredibly difficult.
Still, “Smash Boy” walked away with the split-decision nod, despite a vocal segment of the fanbase feeling the Thai icon had done enough to win at The Inner Circle 14. None of that outside noise appears to be rattling the Russian heading into the sequel, though he honestly admits his foe’s clinch game caught him slightly off guard in the third stanza.
He said:
“I don’t think about that fight. I know I won it. You cannot win if you do everything for one round. I won two rounds. This time I will do better.
“I was not prepared for clinching with him [in the third round]. I went into the last round thinking we would fight in the middle, and I was not ready for that. But now I’m ready for everything.”
That crucial lesson has carefully shaped every single session of his training camp since the rematch was officially announced just weeks after their first clash.
Beyond the technical adjustments he has made, the Team Mehdi Zatout and Team Chingiz Allazov affiliate is well aware of how their initial duel is remembered by a large portion of the global fanbase. Reversing that specific narrative matters just as much to him as anything he achieves inside the ring.
The Dagestani striker told onefc.com:
“If he comes clinching, [I would have] no problem this time. I want a good win. I want to clear everything. I want to clear my name. I hope after this fight, the fans will love me again.”
Outside of settling any lingering doubt, Dayakaev’s primary game plan rarely strays from one central, definitive objective.
Six of his nine victories in ONE Championship have come by way of knockout, including spectacular sub-minute finishes of Nontachai Jitmuangnon and Sibmuen “Coach Nay.” That elite finishing instinct does not simply switch off just because the stakes are highly personal this time around.
If anything, the Russian sees this high-profile battle as another premier opportunity to add to his impressive highlight reel, rather than a tactical affair that would require him to abandon what has rightfully earned him the fitting moniker “Smash Boy.”
The 24-year-old said:
“This fight is no different. I always only have one plan, to smash my opponent. When I [see the chance to] finish, I will finish it. I always go for a knockout, and I hope Chatri [Sityodtong] is preparing 50G’s for me.
“I don’t want to say I want to only knock out Superlek. I want to knock out everyone. I’m always focused on a KO. This fight, I may have some surprises for Superlek.”
A Champion’s Heart, But No Mercy
Aside from the technical surprises he has in store, Abdulla Dayakaev carries genuine admiration for what Superlek showed him during the grueling latter stages of their first fight.
Not many opponents have ever weathered a knockdown of that magnitude and continued firing back the way the flyweight kickboxing king did. It is a rare kind of championship resilience, one that the Russian does not hand out praise for lightly.
He continued:
“His heart [is one of his best qualities]. I’m sure if I caught someone else, that guy would go to sleep. That guy won’t get up.
“But he stood up and continued fighting. His heart is different. He has a champion’s heart. I respect him. I respect his style of fighting. I respect everything.”
That deep respect, however, will not extend a single inch once the two men lock horns again at The Inner Circle 25. But Dayakaev’s ultimate ambitions stretch well beyond simply settling the score with the Thai striking maestro.
This past January, Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon handed “Smash Boy” a tough knockout loss that propelled the Thai standout directly into a ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title opportunity against Nabil Anane — which Rambolek went on to successfully capture.
Dayakaev has certainly not forgotten that pivotal moment, and the competitive sting only runs deeper given that Anane is his own Team Mehdi Zatout teammate. He hopes a decisive triumph over “The Kicking Machine” will rightfully earn him a shot at redemption against the now-reigning divisional king.
He shared:
“When I win against Superlek, I want to fight Rambolek. [That] guy stopped me one step before [a possible] title shot. So for me it’s good motivation.
“I hope they give me a title shot in the next fight. I saw how my little brother [Asadula Imangazaliev] won the belt, and this gives me extra motivation. I also want a belt. I will do everything for it.”
