If you follow ONE Championship’s Friday Fights at Lumpinee Stadium, chances are you’ve heard the name Nabil Anane more than once. But if you haven’t, it’s time to catch up — because this young phenom is rewriting the rules of Muay Thai, one fight at a time.
At just 20 years old, Nabil Anane has already emerged as a towering presence in the bantamweight division. Standing at a staggering 192 cm (6’4″), with an almost 2-meter reach, he brings a level of physical dominance rarely seen in this weight class. That reach alone turns his jab into a weapon deadlier than many fighters’ kicks. In a world where millimeters matter, Nabil is operating with a full extra foot of range — and he’s using it to dismantle some of the sport’s most seasoned warriors.
But Nabil Anane isn’t just tall. He’s talented, technical, and terrifyingly efficient. With seven straight wins at Lumpinee, including a landmark victory over Superlek Kiatmoo9 — the reigning 2024 Fighter of the Year — Nabil isn’t just building hype. He’s building a legacy.
From Pattaya Roots to Global Recognition
Born in Pattaya, Thailand, to a Thai mother and a French-Algerian father, Nabil’s background is as unique as his fighting style. Raised in a city steeped in Muay Thai culture, his path was almost destined. But what started as basic martial arts training in karate and taekwondo quickly turned into something much more serious.
By the age of 11, Nabil had discovered Muay Thai — and two years later, he was already competing on one of the sport’s biggest youth stages: the IFMA World Youth Championships in Bangkok. Not only did he compete — he dominated, sweeping every round and bringing home gold. His performance was a loud signal to the Muay Thai world: this kid was different.
Rapid Rise Through Thailand’s Toughest Circuits
In 2018, Nabil joined the Venum Training Camp, working under the watchful eye of former ONE fighter Mehdi Zatout. This shift marked the start of his professional acceleration. By age 14, he had already notched over ten wins, competing at Thailand’s most iconic venues like Lumpinee, Rajadamnern, and Rangsit.
Between 2018 and 2020, he remained undefeated on the Thai circuit — a feat virtually unheard of for a foreign-raised teenager in Thailand’s deeply competitive fight scene. His style was already evolving: tall, calm, sharp, and calculated.
By 17, he captured the WKN Intercontinental Featherweight Title, and not long after, made history as the youngest WBC Muay Thai World Champion following a clinical stoppage win at Rajadamnern Stadium.
And he didn’t slow down. A month later? Another fight. Then another. All wins.
Nabil Anane Joins ONE Championship
By 2022, Nabil’s highlight-reel knockout over Luca Falco earned him his second WBC World Title, this time at lightweight. That performance caught the attention of ONE Championship, who signed him soon after.
They didn’t ease him in.
His debut was against none other than Superlek Kiatmoo9, one of the most feared strikers in modern Muay Thai. Nabil lost the fight via a body shot in round one — but what came next showed his true character.
Within three months, Nabil was back. Sharper. Stronger. Smarter.
He beat Nakrob Fairtex with a clean right hand. He outclassed Muangthai P.K. Saenchai, a legend with over 200 career wins, using long-range strikes, surgical knees, and beautiful control. He then dispatched the dangerous Kulabdam with a perfectly-timed knee, scoring a knockout and securing a $100,000 contract with ONE.
In the following months, Nabil steamrolled through Felipe Lobo, Soe Lin Oo, and eventually claimed the interim ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title with a first-round demolition of Nico Carrillo — dropping him three times before the referee stopped the bout.
Then came redemption.
In the long-awaited rematch with Superlek, Nabil delivered a masterclass. Despite the fight being changed to a non-title bout due to Superlek missing weight, Nabil dropped him in the first round and continued to dominate through rounds two and three. By the final bell, revenge was complete.
What Makes Nabil Anane So Dangerous?
What separates Nabil Anane from the rest of the division isn’t just his height — it’s how he uses it.
He’s not a point fighter who relies solely on range. He weaponizes his entire frame: long jabs, sharp elbows, devastating knees, and slick footwork that keeps him just out of danger until he decides it’s time to strike.
At long range, he controls the pace with teeps and switch kicks, drawing opponents in and punishing them as they try to close the gap. When they get too close, he crashes into the clinch — and from there, it’s a storm of knees and elbows.
He’s patient, poised, and precise — a rare combination in any fighter, let alone someone so young.
The Future of Muay Thai?
At just 20 years old, Nabil Anane has already accomplished more than most fighters do in a lifetime. But the scariest part? He’s still improving.
He’s already beaten legends. He’s already won world titles. And if this is what he looks like now… what’s he going to look like in five years?
The bantamweight division — and the Muay Thai world as a whole — should be paying close attention. Because Nabil Anane isn’t just a rising star. He might be the future of the sport.
Conclusion: Is Nabil Anane the Next Muay Thai Superstar?
The rise of Nabil Anane in Muay Thai is more than just a story of a tall kid with good genetics. It’s a story of discipline, talent, and fearless ambition. Whether you’re a casual fan or a hardcore fight nerd, one thing is clear: this is only the beginning.
He’s already rewriting the rules. The only question left is…
Who’s going to stop him?
