Mustapha Haida Says He Has More Desire To Win Than Nieky Holzken

Mustapha “Dynamite” Haida‘s ONE Championship debut was a thriller, but his next battle at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS has the potential to be even greater.

The hard-hitting Italian will take on Nieky “The Natural” Holzken inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium this Friday, 22 February in a match of ONE Super Series lightweight knockout artists.

Haida picked up a huge victory and the ONE Super Series Bout Of The Year accolade back in September when he ended a back-and-forth battle with Daniel “The Rock” Dawson in style.

That success and his first taste of life in the world’s largest martial arts organization has re-energized his hunger for success.

“My debut in ONE was a fantastic experience and full of emotion because it was my return after a year-and-a-half out with a bad hand injury,” he says.

“For me, this promotion is the best there is.”

“Dynamite” and Dawson threw everything at each other at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON, and the Italian gained a legion of new fans for his skill and warrior spirit.

He also showed his cerebral game planning, as he made adjustments throughout the contest to combat his rival, and then scored a third-round stoppage with a thunderous left hand.

“I found that solution because I saw that I had made a good opening with the straight left, and that was the right time to try the knockout,” he explains.

After that epic encounter, it appeared the Fight Club Firenze representative would be able to go to war and create fireworks with whichever ONE Super Series athlete he was paired with.

However, the matchmakers have left nothing to chance, and put him up against arguably the division’s marquee name – and one of the world’s greatest kickboxers.

“The Natural” announced his own arrival onto the global stage for martial arts in a similar style, as he knocked out Cosmo “Good Boy” Alexandre at ONE: WARRIOR’S DREAM in November.

Haida was impressed with the Dutchman’s performance, and he knows he faces a formidable foe in the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

“I have followed Holzken for some years,” says the ISKA Kickboxing World Champion.

“In Europe, he is the most revered fighter in his weight class. [Against Alexandre] he wanted to win at all costs, so he did. He’s a very complete athlete, I don’t know what else I can say!”

However, “Dynamite” believes he can take the next big step in his career by taking out the seven-time kickboxing World Champion.

The Italian believes his hunger to reach the top of the mountain will help him get past a man who has already been there. 

“I think he has too much confidence in his skills,” observes Haida.

“I have more desire than him to get to the World Title.”

The 30-year-old is so confident, he was willing to move up in weight to take on one of the most feared strikers on the planet. 

“Dynamite” knows he has a unique chance to claim a signature win, which could propel him on to even bigger things in the year ahead.

“This fight is a great opportunity for me, and I’m very excited to be a part of it,” he says.

“I hope that I can take this opportunity and then get a shot at the ONE World Title in 2019.”

This is a clash that has all the makings of an early Bout Of The Year contender, and Haida is convinced he can entertain the fans again – and hit another highlight-reel finish.