3 reasons why towering Nabil Anane is the real deal
At 20 years old, Nabil Anane is one of the most exciting rising contenders in the world of Muay Thai right now. He has continued to grow under the ONE Championship banner, and the fans have seen that firsthand.
Ahead of his return at ONE Friday Fights 81, here are three reasons why the sky is the limit for the future of the bantamweight division.
1: Proven himself against topnotch opponents
Don't let the fact that Anane is still young in his career make you question the amount of high-level experience he has accumulated.
The recently ranked top-five contender has faced some of the best in his weight class after becoming the youngest WBC Muay Thai World Champion in history.
As far as experience at the high level, it doesn't get much more elite than making your ONE Championship debut against Superlek.
In his last win, which saw him enter the top five, he secured his biggest win to date over former title challenger Felipe Lobo.
2: He's massive for his weight class
The defining trait of his clash with Lobo, which took place at the start of August, was Nabil's ability to control the range at all times.
Standing at 6-foot-4, he's got a significant height advantage over any and all opponents in this 145-pound weight class.
Having that additional size is one thing, but knowing how to use it is a totally different thing, and Nabil certainly showed that last time out.
3: He doesn't let the judges get involved
Anane may not look like the most physically intimidating athlete, but his long frame and high-level experience have made him into a sniper inside the Circle. The young contender may be excellent at shutting opponents down, but make no mistake about it, he's there to take them out.
He currently has four finishes in his last six wins including some very impressive displays against Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai and Nakrob Fairtex. Even if you're able to close the gap on him, you can't afford to take too many risks against a fighter who knows how to close the show.
Nabil Anane will return at ONE Friday Fights 81, where he faces Myanmar's Soe Lin Oo in the bantamweight Muay Thai division.
The full card from Lumpinee Stadium on September 27 will air live in Asian primetime via watch.onefc.com