"I'm too smart for these guys" - Former flyweight kickboxing king Ilias Ennahachi confident he can dominate at bantamweight

Now that he has returned to ONE Championship, Ilias Ennahachi wants to work his way back to the top of the mountain. The 28-year-old competitor has experienced this in the past as a former flyweight kickboxing world champion.

Despite establishing a strong run as the champion, Ennahachi was forced to vacate the belt after he could no longer hit the flyweight limit. After some time away from regular competition, he now looks to cement himself as a major player in the bantamweight kickboxing division.

At ONE Friday Fights 81 on September 27, he takes on former world champion Hiroki Akimoto in a high stakes clash inside Lumpinee Stadium.

Ennahachi spoke in a recent interview with the South China Morning Post about how he expects to show once again why he is world champion caliber:

"I'm undefeated in ONE Championship. I have titles in big organizations. I didn't lose my flyweight belt but I had to give it back because I can't make the weight anymore. My style is too different. I'm too smart for these guys, I'm too fast for these guys, even at bantamweight."

Watch the full interview below:

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Ilias Ennahachi has done it before, and he can do it again

Ilias Ennahachi certainly isn't short on confidence after spending a long time away following his decision to move up a weight class. By facing Akimoto at Lumpinee Stadium, he can instantly jump right to the top of the division.

The wins he accumulated during his flyweight title reign show exactly why Ennahachi is so confident that he will be able to separate himself from the other contenders.

Now it's about proving that by taking out Akimoto and moving up the bantamweight kickboxing ladder towards the champion, Jonathan Haggerty, who is yet to defend his crown.

ONE Friday Fights 81 will air live in Asian primetime via watch.onefc.com