Superlek and Abdulla Dayakaev will meet in a bantamweight Muay Thai rematch at The Inner Circle 25 on Friday, August 7, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
Their first meeting at The Inner Circle 14 this past May ended in a split decision for Dayakaev. He dropped Superlek with a right hand in the first round, then absorbed a comeback from the Thai veteran built on low kicks and clinch work over the final two rounds.
“My plan went out the window early when I got caught by a solid punch,” said Superlek. “Once I took that hit, I was forced to chase the fight and make up ground, but I barely remember most of what happened after that.”
Superlek, the reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion, has since lost two additional fights. He was stripped of his bantamweight Muay Thai title for missing weight and was defeated by Yuki Yoza in a kickboxing bout.
“I feel a sense of regret, though not disappointment,” said Superlek. “I know I gave it everything I had. Once you get knocked down early, coming back for a win is always an uphill battle.”
Dayakaev, a 24-year-old Russian competing out of Team Mehdi Zatout and Team Chingiz Allazov, holds a 16-3 record. A second win over Superlek would put him further into the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title conversation.
“This fight will definitely not end the same way,” said Superlek. “I am 100 percent confident that I will avenge my loss and beat Abdulla this time.”
