WATCH: Superlek's clinical lightning elbow from out of nowhere staggers Tagir Khalilov in Bangkok showdown
ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 prides himself on utilizing his speed and technique to overwhelm his opponents. Russian star Tagir Khalilov experienced it first-hand in their catchweight (135.25 pounds) Muay Thai clash in July 2023.
'The Kicking Machine' first threw a couple of feints to get Khalilov off his game. Once the Samingpri Muay Thai Gym product fell for his trap, the Thai star fired a sneaky upward elbow that staggered him backward.
Check out Superlek's lightning-quick strike below, as shared by ONE on Instagram:
Amid Superlek's onslaught in round two, referee Olivier Coste eventually stepped in and waved off the bout, which resulted in a TKO win for the Kiatmoo9 Gym product.
This past June, the Thai megastar earned his 10th win in a row by defeating compatriot Kongthoranee Sor Sommai via unanimous decision.
Superlek will next challenge two-sport king Jonathan Haggerty for the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world championship at ONE 168: Denver on September 6 inside the Ball Arena.
Superlek heaps praise on Jonathan Haggerty ahead of highly anticipated rematch
Nearly six years since his TKO triumph via a doctor's stoppage over Jonathan Haggerty, Superlek believes that the reigning ONE bantamweight Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion has become even more formidable since moving up to the 145-pound division.
Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Superlek had this to say about his opponent at ONE 168 on September 6 inside the Ball Arena:
"And I feel like Haggerty has improved so much from that fight. His striking, his power, his speed, everything. He looks great. And he's been a really great fit for bantamweight. He's perfect for bantamweight. He just looks really good."
Watch the full interview below:
Tickets for ONE 168 are available via Ticketmaster.