“I smelled blood” - Ilias Ennahachi says Hiroki Akimoto was fortunate to be ‘saved by the bell’ in round 1

Ilias Ennahachi knew that once he'd knocked down Hiroki Akimoto in the first round, it was just a matter of time before he'd see his hand raised.

On Friday, the former ONE world champions stepped inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok for a high-stakes clash at ONE Friday Fights 81 on pay-per-view. While Akimoto was desperately looking to snap a two-fight losing skid, Ennahachi was seeking his fifth-straight win under the ONE banner as his first as a bantamweight.

After three hard-fought rounds, Ennahachi was declared the winner via unanimous decision. His biggest moment came in the waning seconds of the first round when he uncorked a nasty left hook that sent Akimoto crashing to the canvas.

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Had there been more time on the clock in the opening round, Ennahachi believes he would have finished things right then and there.

"Of course, because he was very dizzy and I smelled blood. The people know me. When I smell blood, I don’t stop. I just keep going. He was saved by the bell, but no problem, we put on a good show and that’s very important also for the fans."

Ilias Ennahachi and Hiroki Akimoto find themselves on very different streaks after ONE Friday Fights 81

With the win over Hiroki Akimoto at ONE Friday Fights 81, Ilias Ennahachi moved to a perfect 5-0 in ONE Championship and should find himself with a spot in the bantamweight kickboxing top 5. That will put him in line for a shot at the division's current world champion, Jonathan Haggerty.

Meanwhile, Akimoto finds himself in a precarious position have lost his last three bouts. Still, the 32-year-old fan favorite remains one of the most dangerous competitors in eight-ounce gloves and will likely look to bounce back come 2025.

Were you impressed by Ilias Ennahachi's bantamweight debut inside the Mecca of Muay Thai?

If you missed any of the action, ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch the ONE Friday Fights 81 replay on demand via watch.onefc.com.