Hiroki Akimoto breaks down his fight camp for ONE Friday Fights 81 return against Ilias Ennahachi
Former ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion Hiroki Akimoto has left no stone unturned in his bid to make a successful return at ONE Friday Fights 81. That evening, the Japanese stand-up specialist meets Dutch-Moroccan slugger Ilias Ennahachi in a bantamweight kickboxing joust inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Knowing all about the quality his foe brings to the table, the 32-year-old has doubled his efforts to ensure he comes in at 100 percent. Hiroki Akimoto broke down his entire training camp during a recent chat with ONE Championship, saying:
"Mornings are mainly focused on running (cardio), and we really do run a lot. I think I'm running more than ever before. The afternoon is mostly partner training, where we try various things and practice simulating fights."
The Evolve MMA representative is in need of a bounce-back win after going down in his past two outings under the ONE banner. He dropped his 26 pounds of gold to Petchtanong Petchfergus, then succumbed to a somewhat controversial unanimous decision loss to debuting Chinese star Wei Rui at ONE Fight Night 22.
While the odds might be in his favor this time around, Akimoto knows results haven't gone his way as of late. He, however, hopes his new training schedule will allow him to set things right come ONE Friday Fights 81 this Friday, Sept. 27.
Hiroki Akimoto won't underestimate Ilias Ennahachi's firepower in Bangkok
Hiroki Akimoto believes he will be up against a tricky competitor in Ilias Ennahchi. The latter, a former ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion, makes his debut in the bantamweight division at ONE Friday Fights 81.
Though some feel that the added weight could dampen Ennahachi's plans of electrifying the world with another striking clinic on fight night, Hiroki Akimoto believes the switch will allow his foe to be at the peak of his powers.
In the same interview with the promotion, the Japanese kickboxer continued:
"He's a very well-rounded kickboxer and a good fighter. He has speed, and after moving up in weight class, he's gained power too. I'm really looking forward to it."
ONE Friday Fights 81 will be available via pay-per-view at watch.onefc.com.