‘I Will Hunt For Your Head’ – Kiamran Nabati Fires A Stern Warning At Nontachai Ahead Of The Inner Circle 31

Russian standout Kiamran Nabati returns to action in the main event of The Inner Circle 31 with a major point to prove, and the road to this moment has certainly come with its fair share of obstacles.

The Archangel Michel representative squares off against Nontachai Jitmuangnon in a pivotal bantamweight Muay Thai clash, which goes down live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, streaming exclusively for subscribers at live.onefc.com on Friday, September 18.

This high-stakes matchup was scheduled for ONE Fight Night 46 last month, before an unexpected turn of events derailed it entirely.

Nabati successfully made weight, but unfortunately failed to clear the hydration protocol. Another twist followed when Nontachai fell ill, forcing the bout to be officially removed from the card. For a 31-year-old martial artist who has built his entire reputation on ironclad discipline, watching the opportunity slip away was a difficult pill to swallow.

He told onefc.com:

“I was feeling a little bit sad because I [put in] a lot of work. I wanted to fight with this guy, but it got cancelled. I made my weight, but I didn’t pass hydration. It’s like bad luck because I did everything as I did before.

“I never missed weight [and hydration] for six fights. But, you know, I believe in God, and everything is from God. That’s why [I feel like] it’s destiny.”

However, what began as a frustrating delay ultimately gave Nabati extra time to carefully sharpen his tools.

Rather than sitting idle, he extended his training camp and used the additional weeks to refine every aspect of his game heading into The Inner Circle 31, where he fully intends to secure his fifth promotional victory.

He added:

“I was ready before, and I’m just as ready all the time – anytime, everywhere. I had to extend my camp, but it’s okay. I was still training. I was still improving my skills.

“Now I am confident, and I am ready for this fight. I will try to show my best performance.”

That supreme confidence carries directly into how Nabati has received Nontachai’s words ahead of their Bangkok showdown. The Thai contender has already made it clear that he will not hesitate to exchange heavy strikes in the center of the ring.

Bold talk like that, however, tends to fade quickly once the opening bell rings, and the heavy-handed Russian sounds more than ready to test his opponent’s resolve. That being said, Nabati is certainly not dismissing the distinct danger that awaits him.

He offered:

“I will do everything to knock him out. I’m 100 percent confident. I think maybe in the second round or the first round. Let’s see.

“It’s gonna be a good fight because Nontachai also has a win streak. He’s in form, he’s also a young guy, and he also wants to beat me.”

Nabati Eager To Reignite Yod-IQ Rivalry

A decisive victory later this week could perfectly set Kiamran Nabati up for a rematch against the only fighter to ever hand him a professional defeat — a man who now happens to wear the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.

That familiar rival is Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri, who claimed the 26 pounds of gold with a stellar five-round display at The Inner Circle 30 just last week. It was a World Title opportunity the Thai earned by narrowly defeating Nabati via split decision this past May.

Watching from the outside, the Russian contender could not help but wonder if that golden opportunity should have been his. Still, respect comes first, and the intense hunger to run it back closely follows suit.

Nabati shared:

“I want to congratulate Yod-IQ. It was a good fight, and he won all five rounds against Rambolek. When I saw his fight, I knew that I could beat this guy because our fight was so close and I thought I was winning.

“For now, I want to beat Nontachai – that’s my target. After that, I will try to ask the matchmakers to give me a rematch because it’s gonna be five rounds and it will be a war. We will go there to win or die.”

While Yod-IQ remains very much on his radar, Nabati has not lost sight of the formidable challenge standing directly in front of him. Every grand ambition beyond Friday means nothing if he does not handle his business against Nontachai first.

Before signing off, the Russian star made sure to leave absolutely nothing unsaid heading into fight week.

Nabati concluded:

“Nontachai, I hope you are ready, and your training camp was good because you have to be ready. I am coming for you, and I will hunt for your head.”