Superlek Jitmuangnon proved his long layoff hadn’t cost him a step, and now he wants to prove something else when he makes his promotional return at ONE Friday Fights 178 this Friday, November 13. The Thai striker will face Anar “Atilla” Mammadov in the main event at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, and he looks to show off some new tricks he has learned.
After A Winning Return, Superlek Eyes A Statement Finish At ONE Friday Fights 178
A Successful Return Still Left Him Wanting More
After three and a half years away, Superlek enjoyed a momentous return to ONE Championship this past September, running through Othman Rhouni to earn a unanimous decision.
But he wasn’t completely satisfied.
The 23-year-old took just one week off from training to recover, and then, he returned to Jitmuangnon Gym to fine-tune his skills, knowing the competition will only get fiercer and fiercer.
“I’ve been training continuously, making improvements, and fixing my mistakes to prepare for this comeback,” Superlek said. “[That includes] my finishing ability. I want to be a bit more aggressive when going for the finish and make it better than before.”
A Durable Opponent Who Hasn’t Been Stopped
That mission won’t come easy against Mammadov, who has yet to be finished in his ONE Championship tenure.
The 30-year-old Azerbaijani brings real danger behind a classic kickboxing style, with solid body and head punching, along with genuine speed and power.
Still, Superlek believes he’s spotted a crack in his opponent’s armor.
“Anar is a dangerous fighter. But judging from his last three fights in ONE, his weakness seems to be his endurance when under relentless pressure,” Superlek observed. “He has good body and head punches, typical kickboxing style. He has great speed and power.”
Leaning On His Advantages Without Letting Up
Superlek knows he holds key advantages heading into Friday, including a notable reach edge and the sharpened tools from his latest training camp.
But he has no intention of coasting, fully aware that Mammadov carries legitimate knockout power of his own. Instead, he plans to apply steady pressure, wear his opponent down, and capitalize the moment an opening presents itself.
“I want to bring my best version. But I can’t be careless because we can both hurt each other. I can’t guarantee 100 percent, but compared to my last fight, I’d say I’ve leveled up two or three steps higher,” Superlek said.
“We both hit hard, but if I keep landing strikes continuously, he will slow down. Once he shows signs of damage, I’ll push forward and go for it.”
