Abdulla Dayakaev is eyeing ONE Championship gold – just not yet.
The Russian striker revealed he plans to wait for Venum Training Camp teammate Nabil Anane to vacate the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai title before launching his own run at the belt.
Speaking after his 24-second knockout of Nonthachai Jitmuangnon in a featherweight Muay Thai bout last weekend at ONE Fight Night 33, Dayakaev told the Bangkok Post he will never fight Anane – but has a plan in place.
“I wait. I will never fight with him. He is my brother,” the 23-year-old said backstage at Lumpinee Stadium. “We are training together every day. Sparring together, helping together. I wait him, he go up, I come for belt.”
The 21-year-old Thai-Algerian phenom Anane, who stands at a towering 1.92 metres, is expected to eventually move up to featherweight.
Though Anane currently has no issue making the bantamweight limit – much to the chagrin of the rest of his division, no doubt – meaning No 5-ranked Dayakaev may be waiting a while.
Accordingly, Dayakaev – who has eight wins in ONE and six knockouts, having earned a contract through the Friday Fights series – said he’s not limiting himself to Muay Thai glory.
Abdulla Dayakaev is on a four-fight win streak – all by knockout – in ONE Championship
“Who knows? Maybe we have four belts, brother. Kickboxing, Muay Thai. Maybe I go MMA with Fabricio Andrade. Of course, I’m so young. Only [born in] 2002, brother. We have time.”
He confirmed that he’s already cross-training at the Phuket-based gym, under the watchful eye of head coach Mehdi Zatout.
“He sees my MMA every day, brother. Doesn’t matter. Boxing, MMA, wrestling – doesn’t matter.”
Speaking to the Bangkok Post after the fight, Zatout was gushing in his praise of Dayakaev, whose vicious left hook finish earned him a first US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
“No words. I’m so happy, bro,” he said. “After the fight with Saemapetch, I know I deserved it last time also, but Chatri wanted to see one more KO. I show him. He pay for this. Thank you.”
It was the fastest finish of his career, beating his previous best of 35 seconds against “Coach Nay” Sibmuen.
“Maybe next time 10 seconds, brother. Maybe backstage, I don't know!” he joked.
Dayakaev’s next move is uncertain, but he’s willing to stay at bantamweight or go up to featherweight again if necessary.
Coach Mehdi Zatout celebrates with Abdulla Dayakaev after his 24-second KO win in ONE Championship
“If everyone run, I come 70[kg], brother. Doesn’t matter,” he said. “If run 70, I come 77. Maybe after I go fight with [ONE heavyweight Muay Thai champ] Roman Kryklia!”
While he also jokingly ruled out fighting ONE heavyweight MMA champ Anatoly Malykhin – “No, Malykhin my friend” – he said his style doesn’t change regardless of the opponent.
“I never go fight for tactics. I come for smash, bro,” he said. “All my [last] four fights, four streak, four KOs.”
Dayakaev also named Felipe Lobo and Superlek Kiatmuu9 as targets, though he’s unsure if the latter will return to bantamweight.
“Where is Superlek?” he said. “He say he will go 61[kg] again, flyweight. I cannot come flyweight.”
He said he will also keep a close eye on fellow contender Yod-IQ, who fights next week on ONE Friday Fights 117 against Alessio Malatesta – with a contract likely to be on the line for both men.
“We watch this fight. If he win contract, if he deserve this, of course I can beat him,” Dayakaev said. “I’m the first guy who do knockout Nonthachai. I first guy who do knockout Alessio Malatesta. I will be first guy who do KO Yod-IQ.”
The Russian striker revealed he plans to wait for Venum Training Camp teammate Nabil Anane to vacate the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai title before launching his own run at the belt.
Speaking after his 24-second knockout of Nonthachai Jitmuangnon in a featherweight Muay Thai bout last weekend at ONE Fight Night 33, Dayakaev told the Bangkok Post he will never fight Anane – but has a plan in place.
“I wait. I will never fight with him. He is my brother,” the 23-year-old said backstage at Lumpinee Stadium. “We are training together every day. Sparring together, helping together. I wait him, he go up, I come for belt.”
The 21-year-old Thai-Algerian phenom Anane, who stands at a towering 1.92 metres, is expected to eventually move up to featherweight.
Though Anane currently has no issue making the bantamweight limit – much to the chagrin of the rest of his division, no doubt – meaning No 5-ranked Dayakaev may be waiting a while.
Accordingly, Dayakaev – who has eight wins in ONE and six knockouts, having earned a contract through the Friday Fights series – said he’s not limiting himself to Muay Thai glory.
Abdulla Dayakaev is on a four-fight win streak – all by knockout – in ONE Championship
“Who knows? Maybe we have four belts, brother. Kickboxing, Muay Thai. Maybe I go MMA with Fabricio Andrade. Of course, I’m so young. Only [born in] 2002, brother. We have time.”
He confirmed that he’s already cross-training at the Phuket-based gym, under the watchful eye of head coach Mehdi Zatout.
“He sees my MMA every day, brother. Doesn’t matter. Boxing, MMA, wrestling – doesn’t matter.”
Speaking to the Bangkok Post after the fight, Zatout was gushing in his praise of Dayakaev, whose vicious left hook finish earned him a first US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
“No words. I’m so happy, bro,” he said. “After the fight with Saemapetch, I know I deserved it last time also, but Chatri wanted to see one more KO. I show him. He pay for this. Thank you.”
It was the fastest finish of his career, beating his previous best of 35 seconds against “Coach Nay” Sibmuen.
“Maybe next time 10 seconds, brother. Maybe backstage, I don't know!” he joked.
Dayakaev’s next move is uncertain, but he’s willing to stay at bantamweight or go up to featherweight again if necessary.
Coach Mehdi Zatout celebrates with Abdulla Dayakaev after his 24-second KO win in ONE Championship
“If everyone run, I come 70[kg], brother. Doesn’t matter,” he said. “If run 70, I come 77. Maybe after I go fight with [ONE heavyweight Muay Thai champ] Roman Kryklia!”
While he also jokingly ruled out fighting ONE heavyweight MMA champ Anatoly Malykhin – “No, Malykhin my friend” – he said his style doesn’t change regardless of the opponent.
“I never go fight for tactics. I come for smash, bro,” he said. “All my [last] four fights, four streak, four KOs.”
Dayakaev also named Felipe Lobo and Superlek Kiatmuu9 as targets, though he’s unsure if the latter will return to bantamweight.
“Where is Superlek?” he said. “He say he will go 61[kg] again, flyweight. I cannot come flyweight.”
He said he will also keep a close eye on fellow contender Yod-IQ, who fights next week on ONE Friday Fights 117 against Alessio Malatesta – with a contract likely to be on the line for both men.
“We watch this fight. If he win contract, if he deserve this, of course I can beat him,” Dayakaev said. “I’m the first guy who do knockout Nonthachai. I first guy who do knockout Alessio Malatesta. I will be first guy who do KO Yod-IQ.”
