rewrite this title “Fighting more with emotion” – Yonis Anane reflects on the crucial mistake that cost him his last fight

Youngest-ever WBC Muay Thai world champion Yonis Anane is not the type to make excuses.

After winning his first three matches in ONE, the 18-year-old phenom saw his streak snapped by Zhao Zhengdong at ONE Friday Fights 147 in March.

While disappointed by his shortcomings, Anane licked his wounds and simply went back to work.

Earlier that same night, his older brother and mentor Nabil Anane lost the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title. The emotional weight of that moment followed Yonis into his own contest, and it perhaps showed in the third round.

Speaking to ONE Championship, Yonis reflected on what went wrong in his loss to the Chinese striker.

“About that fight, it was a mistake in the third round. My guard was low. That was the mistake. For me, I was winning, but then I got knocked down. I think I was fighting more with emotion than with my mind. That’s the reason.”

Yonis Anane will get a chance to redeem himself at The Inner Circle on Friday, May 22, when he faces British striker Freddie Haggerty in strawweight Muay Thai action at Lumpinee Stadium.

The Team Mehdi Zatout standout is surrounded by veterans in his camp, who give him sound advice. Along with his self-awareness, Anane will no doubt come in much prepared this Friday.

Fans can watch the action by purchasing The Inner Circle at live.onefc.com.

The Inner Circle on May 22: Full card

This Friday’s iteration of the weekly series inside ‘The Mecca of Muay Thai’ features some of the best strikers in the world competing in Muay Thai and kickboxing rules.

Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri vs. Kiamran Nabati (bantamweight Muay Thai)

Liu Mengyang vs. Gabriel Pereira (featherweight kickboxing)

Freddie Haggerty vs. Yonis Anane (strawweight Muay Thai)

Vero vs. Kana Morimoto (atomweight kickboxing)

Viet Anh Do vs. Kyungjung Kim (flyweight MMA)

Edited by Aziel Karthak