Jonathan Di Bella on fighting with his back against the wall at ONE Fight Night 26: "I didn't feel any pressure"

Jonathan Di Bella came into ONE Fight Night 26 knowing what could potentially be at stake for him.

The former ONE strawweight kickboxing world champion was coming off of a loss to current titleholder and two-sport king Prajanchai PK Saenchai.

After believing that he did enough to get his hand raised or at least secure a rematch back in June, Di Bella now had to return to Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

In his clash with Rui Botelho on Dec. 6, the world title fight that the former champ believed he was owed would be at stake as he took on a confident opponent.

Di Bella was able to go out there and leave no doubt that he is still right at the top of the strawweight food chain with a dominant performance against his Portuguese foe.

The Italian-Canadian didn't seem to be feeling the weight or stakes one bit and if anything, he looked loose and creatively free.

In a post-event interview with ONE Championship after getting his hand raised, Jonathan Di Bella said that the title fight potentially looming overhead didn't factor into his mindset:

"No, I didn't feel any pressure. I just wanted to go out there and have fun."

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Jonathan Di Bella made his case at ONE Fight Night 26

Whether he felt the pressure or not, there was a lot at stake for Jonathan Di Bella on Dec. 6 at Lumpinee Stadium.

Not only did the moment bring the best out of him, fighting over three rounds allowed him to show what he can do when he's not pacing himself for five rounds.

Di Bella put the pressure on Rui Botelho from the first bell to the last and even then, we felt like he could have done more.

Botelho was a dangerous opponent, who was in good form.

But he was unable to stop the flow that the former world champion settled into right from the off.