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Last Friday, August 2, at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video, 20-year-old phenom Nabil Anane once again lived up the massive hype surrounding him when earned a dominant decision win over former two-time ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title challenger Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo.

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That night, live in U.S. primetime at the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Anane employed his towering height and massive reach advantage to brutalize the Brazilian with strikes both at long range and in the clinch.

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Nabil Anane’s signature straw hat pays tribute to one piece’s Luffy

The victory further established the Team Mehdi Zatout product as a true global superstar and a legitimate contender in the talent-laden bantamweight Muay Thai division.

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As he becomes more and more known around the world, many fans have taken note of Anane’s trademark walkout attire that includes a unique straw hat. He says that hat is an ode to the long and lanky character Luffy from the popular Manga series “One Piece.”

Anane explained: “I just look like him. I got long arms and long legs. He’s a robber. And, yeah, I just look like him. Here, below my eye. I got stitches before. I look like him. It’s just a character. And also, I watch One Piece, but I haven’t watched it for a long time. So I will be watching it again because I love One Piece.”

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Anane embraces his unique style and focuses on growth

Like Luffy, the Thai-Algerian striker boasts impossibly long arms – arms that he uses to pick his opponents apart at long range with thudding jabs and show-stopping straight right hands.

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But according to Anane, the similarities between him and Luffy stop there. He added: “No, I don’t have [a] story like him. I just look like him. So yeah, I took his character, that’s all.” Anane has further risen in the stacked bantamweight Muay Thai ranks because of his unbelievable run as he is expected to join the likes of Nico Carrillo, Nong-O Hama, Saemapetch, and Liam Harrison in the top five soon.

However, the young striking phenom is not in a hurry to chase gold as he believes he still has a lot to learn before being the best in the world today. With youth and health on his side, expect Anane to be back in action soon against hungry contenders looking to make a statement in the division.

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Suryakant Das

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Suryakant Das is a senior writer who leads UFC live coverage at EssentiallySports, known for his broad expertise and standout professionalism in MMA journalism. Over two years in the field, he has become a key voice on real-time event updates, pre- and post-fight interviews, and analysis of viral moments from the Joe Rogan Experience. His dynamic reporting is backed by selection to the Journalistic Excellence Program, which hones advanced editorial skills and strategic coverage approaches for top talent. Suryakant’s career is defined by his ability to deliver both speed and depth. His versatile background spans sports journalism, content writing, and editorial roles, helping him navigate fast-paced live coverage and deliver meaningful stories with clarity and precision. Recognition from respected MMA figures such as Nina-Marie Daniele and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping further marks him as a trusted authority in the UFC community.

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Yeswanth Praveen

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