WATCH: Superlek seen training with hip hop star Wiz Khalifa

Kickboxing king Superlek Kiatmoo9 stunned fans with his latest training session with hip-hop star Wiz Khalifa this week.

Ahead of his first world title defense in March, the Thai superstar is currently on a promotional tour in the US. At one of his stops, Superlek visited Unbreakable Gym in California where he met and trained with American rapper Wiz Khalifa.

It may come as a shock to many, but the Work Hard, Play Hard rapper has been perfecting his Muay Thai skills over the last few years. In the past, he has trained with the likes of Muay Thai legends Saenchai and Buakaw Banchamek before learning some new combinations with the kickboxing standout.

Now, with over four years of training up his sleeve, Khalifa is looking more like a Muay Thai fighter every day.

Phillip Villa, the founder of YOKKAO sports, shared rare footage of the rapper doing some drills with the living legend on Instagram. He wrote in the caption:

“TODAY WAS 🔥 @wizkhalifa throwing down a solid Muay Thai session with @superlek789 at @unbreakableperformance in LA 👊 #tillthenext #weinthegym #muaythai #yokkao@.”

Just a few days ago, ONE Championship announced the long-awaited matchup between Superlek Kiatmoo9 and fellow Thai superstar ‘The Iron Man’ Rodtang Jitmuangnon. This will be Superlek’s first world title defense since claiming the vacant belt via unanimous decision on January 13.

Watch the kickboxing war unfold on Friday, March 24, at ONE Fight Night 8: Bhullar vs. Malykhin live and for free with a Prime Video subscription.

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ONE CEO explains world title delay between Superlek vs. Rodtang

The dream fight between the two legendary fighters in Superlek and Rodtang has been in the minds of fans for quite a while. With ‘The Kicking Machine’ taking the vacant ONE flyweight kickboxing world title and Rodtang taking a dominant win in a kickboxing match on the same card, it was surprising that their showdown was not immediately announced.

ONE CEO and chairman Chatri Sityodtong shed some light on the situation in an interview with the South China Morning Post:

“Right now we are trying to figure out who the 16 athletes are for the open weight so that obviously… of course, we want them to fight, whether it’s for the Muay Thai title or the kickboxing title but we also have the consideration of open weight. Are one of those guys or both those guys gonna be in the openweight grand prix?”

Prior to ONE Fight Night 6, Sityodtong revealed that ONE Championship will have an Openweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix that will be open to 16 of the best fighters in the sport, regardless of weight class, competing for a prize of US$1,000,000. As such, both Muay Thai warriors were essentially in the mix to compete in the tournament.

It now appears that both are focused on competing in their own weight class instead of joining the tournament, and will battle it out for the world title. The date has been set and there’s no turning back.

Watch the full interview below: