'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
'The Kicking Machine' Superlek Kiatmoo9 is eying several intriguing options as he nears his return to the global stage of ONE Championship. Included in his list is former K-1 champion Yuki Yoza.
The Japanese slugger lived up to all the hype surrounding his arrival when he debuted under the ONE spotlight at ONE Friday Fights 109 last month. Squaring off against unbeaten Russian slugger Elbrus Osmanov, the 27-year-old had it far from easy in their bantamweight Muay Thai matchup inside the Lumpinee Stadium.
No mountain seemed too tough to climb for the Team Vasileus star, though. He employed a variety of strategies to dissect his foe's defense on his way to a well-deserved unanimous decision win.
Trending
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Days after his victorious debut, Yoza—teammates with ONE interim featherweight kickboxing world champion Masaaki Noiri and former three-division K-1 king Takeru Segawa, uploaded a post-fight analysis to his YouTube channel to discuss how he could have improved on his performance and what he wants next on martial arts' biggest platform.
Though his radar is locked on Jonathan Haggerty's ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion, the Japanese athlete later revealed that he'd be down to cross paths with Superlek.
The Thai striking genius, who was last in action at ONE 172 inside the Saitama Super Arena, has answered his callout.
"Yes, absolutely. I would love to face Yuki Yoza," the Kiatmoo9 Gym representative told Nick Atkin in an online interview. "I think it’ll be a great fight. He has great kicks, but I have versatility in terms of my Muay Thai and kickboxing arsenal. I think it’ll be a great match."
Watch the full interview here:
A battle between these two should be fireworks. Superlek's ability to flick between being a calculated assassin and an all-out warrior would match up well against Yoza's bag of tricks.
However, 'The Kicking Machine' must fulfill his duty as the ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion. Perhaps if he's done defending his strap, and if a trilogy with Anane doesn't materialize, fight fans can expect Superlek and Yoza to meet in due time.
Superlek calls for showdown between Nabil Anane and Jonathan Haggerty
After losing his belt on the scales just days before his loss to Anane in Japan, Superlek doesn't want any express ticket to get himself back into the world title picture. Like all contenders, the 29-year-old wants to truly show why he deserves a shot at the crown.
As such, he'd be happy to see two of his former opponents, ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion Jonathan Haggerty and interim bantamweight Muay Thai king Anane, collide for the vacant divisional title—an all-champion showdown that would definitely be an instant classic.
"I think it would be a great match. I would love to see that fight. It would make sense. It would make sense, you know, if I lost and then I have to go back and work my way up again. I don’t think it makes sense if I lose and immediately do the rematch."
