Ilias Ennahachi says Hiroki Akimoto left it too late vs Wei Rui: "The judges watch all the rounds, not just the third"

In the eyes of former ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Ilias Ennahachi, the judges got the result of the Hiroki Akimoto-Wei Rui clash spot on.The pair collided in a back-and-forth war at ONE Fight Night 22 inside the Lumpinee Stadium this past May. The debuting Chinese star got his hand raised with a unanimous decision nod, but many felt that the Japanese superstar did more than enough to bag the win.

Speaking on the result, which continues to differ opinions, Ilias Ennahachi told the South China Morning Post (SCMP):

"He [Wei Rui] made too much points in the first and second rounds. And then, in the last round, Akimoto's coming back thinking if he can put a lot of pressure in the last round, maybe he can win the fight. But the judges watch all the rounds, not just the third. But it was a very good fight."

Akimoto gained an upper hand over 'Demon Blade' at the start of the contest. However, Wei Rui shifted into gear from there on, punishing the Evolve MMA star with slick kicks and punches in bunches.

Though he was unable to put the pressure on Akimoto as much as he did in the first and second stanzas, his output and ability to dictate the nine-minute contest on an overall convinced all three judges at ringside to award him the win.

Ilias Ennahachi faces Akimoto next in a bantamweight kickboxing tilt at ONE Friday Fights 81. The promotion's tentpole weekly offering takes place inside the Mecca of Muay Thai on Sept. 27.

Watch the interview with SCMP here:

---

Hiroki Akimoto envisions an "entertaining" scrap vs Ilias Ennahachi

With his back against the wall after losing two in a row, Hiroki Akimoto understands that the pressure will be on him to perform against Ilias Ennahachi.

Still, he vows to not back down regardless of what the Dutch-Moroccan dynamo brings to the table. Win or lose, he dreams of an entertaining fight against Ennahachi that will thrill the watching world for as long as the fight lasts.

Speaking to ONE, he said:

"I believe it will be an entertaining fight for the audience. I think it will be an interesting fight with quick entries and exits and exchanges."

ONE Friday Fights 81 will be available via pay-per-view at watch.onefc.com.