‘Knockout Will Come From My Left Hand’ – Othman Rhouni Ready To Make His Mark At ONE Friday Fights 161
Othman “The Ironside” Rhouni arrived in ONE Championship under difficult circumstances, learned hard lessons, and came back a different fighter. On Friday, July 10, he gets the chance to show exactly how much has changed.
The Moroccan striker faces Thai phenom Jaradchai Maxjandee in a flyweight Muay Thai main event at ONE Friday Fights 161 live in Asia primetime from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Rhouni’s first appearance on the ONE Friday Fights stage came against “The Angel Warrior” Panpayak Jitmuangnon, a seven-time Muay Thai World Champion, who carries one of the most feared names in the division.
Stepping in on 10 days’ notice against that level of opposition would have been a daunting proposition for any fighter. For Rhouni, it came with an additional layer of difficulty that made the performance even more understandable in hindsight.
The razor-close split-decision loss stung, but the context behind it tells a story that the result alone cannot.
Rhouni said:
“For that match, I only had 10 days’ notice to prepare myself for a completely different rule set. But the biggest factor was that before facing Panpayak, I had to take an eight-month layoff due to a broken hand. I lost my balance and couldn’t find my rhythm, which is why I didn’t perform well.”
The contrast between that debut and his preparation for July 10 could not be more stark. Five full weeks in a rule set he knows intimately, with a game plan built around the weapons that make him most dangerous, has given Rhouni the platform to deliver the performance his debut hinted at but could not produce.
He is not looking to simply compete on this Friday. He is looking to make an impression, and he arrives with a clear plan for doing exactly that.
He said:
“This time, I’ve had a full five weeks to prepare specifically for Muay Thai. It’s a rule set I am highly familiar with and love.
“My plan for this fight is very simple: move forward and be very aggressive. I am going to rely heavily on my boxing combinations and heavy hands rather than just focusing on kicks. Since we are using small gloves, I love utilizing my hands, so expect a forward-pressure approach.”
The camp switch ahead of this fight has added another dimension to Rhouni’s preparation. Moving from Tocayah Fight Club in Bangkok to Venum Training Camp in Pattaya placed him in an environment populated by top fighters, accelerating his development in ways that a full training block alone could not achieve.
The Moroccan striker has absorbed everything on offer since arriving, and the influence of those around him has sharpened every aspect of his game heading into this main event.
He said:
“Before this, I was training at Tocayah Fight Club in Bangkok. I decided to switch camps because I wanted to train with elite fighters and champions.
“I’ve been absorbing everything I can from the skills of the other fighters and the Thai trainers, especially from our head coach, Mehdi Zatout. It has been the perfect environment for me to elevate my game.”
Rhouni Believes He Has The Answer To Jaradchai
Othman Rhouni has studied Jaradchai carefully, and what he has found has not given him pause. It has given him a plan.
The Thai’s calling card is well established. Jaradchai is a natural finisher who loves to close the distance and unleash flying knees and high kicks, techniques that have ended three consecutive ONE fights inside the distance. But Rhouni has identified a structural detail in this matchup that he believes neutralizes that threat before it can take shape.
He explained:
“I know that in his past fights, he likes to close the distance to set up those flying knees and high kicks. However, we are the exact same height, so it won’t be easy for him to pull off those techniques against me.”
With the distance management question answered, Rhouni’s attention turns to the finish he is hunting.
The Moroccan carries genuine knockout power in both hands, and he has a specific sequence in mind that he believes will decide the fight once the right moment presents itself.
He offered:
“God willing, the knockout will come from my left hand. My left hook and my liver shots are very strong. When I enter the ring, my first priority is to read my opponent and figure out his timing. Once I unlock his timing and spot an opening, that’s when I will mix up my levels between the head and body to land the finishing shot.”
