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Kiamran Nabati is "only focused" on his upcoming fight against the legendary Nong-O Hama.
In September 2023, Nabati, an undefeated Russian Muay Thai fighter, made his ONE Championship debut. Since then, the 29-year-old has solidified himself as a contender in the bantamweight division by securing three consecutive wins, including a first-round knockout against Suablack last time out.
Next Friday will feature the biggest fight of Nabati's career, as he's scheduled to face former ONE bantamweight Muay Thai king Nong-O. The Russian has a massive opportunity against Nong-O, as the latter is ranked number three in the division.
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During an interview with the South China Morning Post, Kiamran Nabati was asked about taking Nong-O's ranking with a win at ONE Friday Fights 81. The undefeated 29-year-old had this to say about being focused on the task at hand:
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"Yes, I think it’s going to be big. But right now, I’m only focused on this fight, and after this fight, I can call some names. I’m gonna call names of who I want to fight, but right now, I’m only focused on this fight."
Nong-O vs Nabati is one of several intriguing matchups taking place at ONE Friday Fights 81. Next Friday's event featuring Superbon vs Jo Nattawut can be seen by North American viewers via pay-per-view.
Watch his entire interview with the South China Morning Post below:
What's at stake between Kiamran Nabati and Nong-O?
In 2023, Nong-O suffered a significant setback due to back-to-back knockout losses against Jonathan Haggerty and Nico Carrillo. Earlier this year, the former ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion temporarily silenced the doubters with a unanimous decision win against Kulabdam.
At ONE Friday Fights 81, Nong-O could prove he has plenty of gas left in the tank to take out younger contenders. An impressive performance against Kiamran Nabati would also potentially earn the Thai superstar a title shot.
Meanwhile, Nabati is seen as a threat in the division, but he remains unranked at bantamweight. Therefore, a win against Nong-O would ensure him a spot in the top five, creating a clearer path for his world title aspirations.
