Danial Williams recalls how he started training Muay Thai as a teenager in Thailand

At ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video, Danial Williams will compete in the strawweight Muay Thai division under the ONE Championship banner once again.

Ahead of his March 24 contest against Portugal’s Rui Botelho, Williams has been reflecting on how he got started in training Muay Thai as a teenager.

In an interview with the promotion, Danial Williams said:

“First of all, I came [to Thailand] about 13 years ago. I was only 17. I [had] just finished high school, and I always wanted to do a bit of training in Thailand. My Muay Thai was really ramping up. I had my first fight when I was 15. And then when I finished high school, I really ramped it up around my studies.”

‘Mini T’ went into detail about how he decided where he would start his training:

“Northern Thailand, my mum's from the north. I was born in the north of Thailand before I went to Australia when I was one year old. Because my dad's Australian. I wanted to pick a gym in the north, just so it's close to family, if I ever needed to visit them on my mom's side. And Chiang Mai is about three hours from where my entire family lives, in Chiang Rai.”

He added:

“So when I was looking on Google, picking gyms, there were a few gyms, and Santai just seemed more appealing online. I hit them up, and I only just started as well. It had only been a few months since they started their gym. It was the best decision I ever made, because I came here, and then I really loved it, absolutely loved it, and then I ended up getting offered a sponsorship to come back. Over the three years, I just came back quite regularly, around my studies. And that's how it all began.”

Danial Williams’ Muay Thai skills have served him well inside the circle, whether he’s competing in a striking ruleset or in MMA. He credits his ability with being able to compete and test himself often:

“This is where I developed my Muay Thai skills, because I could regularly fight when I was here. I feel like fighting is the best place to learn. So, yeah, that's how it all came to fruition.”

ONE Fight Night 8 will emanate from the Singapore Indoor Stadium and will be available live and for free to all Prime Video subscribers in North America.

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Danial Williams likes to strike up conversations with fans

Ahead of his return at ONE Fight Night 8 on March 24, Danial Williams has been doing a lot of reflecting on his earlier life. He spoke extensively about the struggles he faced as a young man with a lack of confidence.

Known for putting on a show for the fans, ‘Mini T’ recently said in an interview with ONE Championship that he likes to engage with his supporters as much as possible even if it isn’t to do with fighting.

Drawing on his own experiences, Danial Williams knows that talking and engaging with fans will help them more than they may even realize:

“I’m pretty good with just talking about things outside of fighting as well, and I mean, the martial arts and stuff as well. So maybe saying something about the shirt they’re wearing. Trying to make these small conversations with them and then remember their names when they come in. That was what I always liked.”

He added:

“When people remember you or remember something about you, then that’s a real confidence-building thing. It’s like, ‘Oh, I’m being seen. I’m not in the corner all the time.'”

At ONE Fight Night 8 in Singapore, Danial Williams will do what he does best and that’s put on a great fight for the fans in attendance or watching live from their homes. He faces Portugal’s Rui Botelho in his first Muay Thai bout under the ONE banner since his debut against Rodtang Jitmuangnon.