Danial Williams says his social anxiety as a kid kept him "really isolated"

As he prepares for a big 2023, Danial Williams has been doing some reflecting on his career and upbringing. He’s got big plans in mind for the year ahead after redefining himself in 2022.

Whilst ‘Mini T’ may be known today as one of the most exciting performers on the ONE Championship roster who is always guaranteed to produce a great fight, he wasn’t always this way.

Born and raised in Australia, Williams was a very different person in his younger years, so much so that it is hard to imagine that kid turning into the non-stop action fighter that we now see.

This can often be the case for fighters, who find themselves growing in self-confidence thanks to their dedication and training in martial arts.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Danial Williams spoke about the social anxiety that defined him in his early life:

“I was always by myself. I couldn’t even ask the teachers for help, which is pretty crazy. Super, super shy.”

He added:

“I was never present with how I spoke. Then I would just f****** cringe a lot at the things that I said after. It really isolated me.”

At ONE Fight Night 8, Williams will return to the circle to face Portugal’s Rui Botelho.

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Danial Williams returns to Muay Thai to face Rui Botelho at ONE Fight Night 8

After spending 2022 competing in mixed martial arts under the ONE Championship banner, Australian fighter ‘Mini T’ Danial Williams will return to Muay Thai next time he steps inside the circle.

In his first appearance of 2023, Williams will face Portugal’s Rui Botelho in a strawweight Muay Thai contest that is sure to be a treat for the fans at ONE Fight Night 8. Scheduled for March 24 live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium, the card is headlined by the heavyweight unification bout between Arjan Bhullar and Anatoly Malykhin.

This upcoming contest will be Daniel Williams’s first Muay Thai bout since his debut with ONE Championship in April 2021. On that date, Williams announced himself to ONE Championship fans by going to war with ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

Williams’ focus on MMA paid off for him last year, winning three of his four contests to emerge as a real contender at strawweight.

Despite this, ‘Mini T’ knew he would always return to Muay Thai with a dream of competing for world championships in several disciplines.

Rui Botelho has struggled to find consistency since signing with ONE Championship in 2018 but knows that he will be in for a scrap when he steps inside the circle with Danial Williams.