Yonis Anane is ready to forge his own identity in the world’s largest martial arts organization. A statement finish at ONE Friday Fights 147 is his first step out from behind the shadow of his older brother, reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane.
The 18-year-old phenom is set to return to action against China’s Zhao Zhengdong in a strawweight Muay Thai bout this Friday, live in Asia primetime on March 20 from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Entering the global stage carrying the family name was never going to be simple for the young Anane. While his older brother had set an impossibly high bar, the teenage prodigy rose to meet it.
Armed with long-range striking, composed footwork, and technical patience beyond his years, Anane won his first three bouts in ONE. His most recent — a clinical unanimous decision over Riamu Matsumoto at ONE Friday Fights 142 last February — only reinforced the belief that something special is brewing.
Yet his impressive 48-8 record tells only part of the story. For all the control and pressure Anane has imposed in the ONE ring, a definitive finish on the global stage has eluded him.
The WBC Muay Thai World Champion said:
“For that fight with Riamu, I came in with a specific game plan to dominate him, and everything went exactly as planned.
“I saw the openings and had several chances to finish the fight, but unfortunately, I couldn’t close the deal. I have to admit, Riamu is incredibly tough. Plus, my strikes lacked stopping power, which is why I couldn’t put him away.”
His next challenge, however, will demand more of him than anyone he has faced. Zhao wasted no time making his mark, stopping Keisuke Monguchi by TKO in his promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 139. The Chinese striker carries dangerous hands and sharp footwork into this matchup.
Rather than shy away from the challenge, Anane has leaned into it. Back at Team Mehdi Zatout’s base in Pattaya, he has spent this camp transforming precision into power.
The Algerian-French fighter said:
“Looking back at my last three outings, I feel like I’m constantly evolving, especially in adjusting to the small gloves. My timing is getting sharper, and I can handle the impact much better now. I know I can go much further.
“The main thing I’ve been grinding on is my finishing ability. I’ve gone back to fix that, focusing on making my strikes both heavier and more precise for this upcoming fight.”
Grinding out decisions is no longer enough for Anane. He wants to leave his mark in the most emphatic way possible, and against Zhao, he is ready to put his full arsenal on display.
This time, he is not leaving anything on the table.
Anane declared:
“I’m determined to get my first knockout win to make up for the last fight. I’ve prepped some heavy weapons for both long range and the inside.
“I promise if I get the chance to finish him, I won’t let it slip away again. I want to prove to everyone that I’ve got that finisher mentality too.”
Anane Ready To Make It A Family Night To Remember
Sharing Lumpinee Stadium with his older brother was an opportunity Yonis Anane had to seize.
Before Yonis makes his walk to the ONE ring, Nabil Anane will defend his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title against Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon in the headline attraction of The Inner Circle Superfan Club card earlier in the evening.
For Yonis, the occasion adds fuel to an already burning fire.
The 18-year-old striker said:
“I’m so happy. This is the second time we are fighting on the same card. Having the whole team there made it an easy decision to take this fight.
“I’m confident we’re going to sweep the board. There’s a good chance we can finish our fights early because we’ve all been training like beasts.”
His older sibling’s success at the summit of the sport is the greatest motivation Anane could ask for.
Even while the reigning champion is preparing for a World Title defense, Nabil has found time to pass on the lessons that matter most to his younger brother.
On Friday, the younger Anane has every intention of repaying that guidance with the best performance of his life.
The Team Mehdi Zatout standout said:
“Nabil kept emphasizing the finish. He told me if the chance comes again, I have to take it, because that was the only thing missing from my last performance. He thinks I’m doing great in every other area, so I’ve been adding more power to my strikes to fix that one missing piece.
“He is already proud of me for making the move to this promotion and performing well in my first three fights. But getting a knockout would definitely make him even prouder.”