- 6/2/2025
We take a look at Superlek's journey to superstardom.
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00:00I want to play a game. If I can play a game, I want to play a game.
00:02I believe that there will be 100 players on the front of Takiya.
00:07Actually, it won't happen.
00:09But it's just that they see us as a way to go.
00:14It's just like it's easy to do.
00:18It's just like it's a way to think about it.
00:23What happens when one of the most humble Muay Thai legends on the planet reaches his boiling point?
00:29Before Superlek faces interim king Nabil Anand in an explosive one-bantamweight Muay Thai world title unification showdown on March 23rd at 1.172.
00:40Witness what unfolds when an opponent crosses the line with the kicking machine.
00:47In July 2023, Superlek was set to face dangerous Russian striker Tagir Kalilov in a high-stakes flyweight Muay Thai scrap at 1.00 Fight Night 12.
00:58The Thai megastar was entering the bout riding a dominant eight-fight winning streak.
01:03Meanwhile, Kalilov was coming off back-to-back highlight reel knockouts of Thai sensations Chorfar and Black Panther, earning himself the nickname, the Thai Killer.
01:13Throughout his career, Superlek had been considered one of the most respectful fighters on the roster, but this foe was different.
01:22In the lead-up to one Fight Night 12, Kalilov displayed a bold confidence, seemingly overlooking Superlek as he emphasized his Thai Killer moniker.
01:31I have a fight now with Superlek. I want to win this fight, and then I want to win Rotan. And be sure, Thai Killer.
01:38Thai Fight is more comfortable for me because I know how to work with them. I want to catch him, knock him down.
01:44Superlek usually stays out of pre-fight drama, but Kalilov's dismissive attitude hit a nerve.
01:51Superlek's chilling response set the tone for a heated collision, where the kicking machine had something ruthless in store.
02:11Kalilov is a big talker. He said earlier this week, like, Superlek's game has not improved.
02:16Superlek's words, Kalilov may beat him in hands, he said, but I beat him in every other aspect of the game.
02:21From the opening bell, every strike Superlek threw had one purpose, to punish.
02:27Yeah, Superlek's coming out with venom here in this first round with those elbows, too.
02:32And you can see Kalilov's face is already busted up.
02:36The kicking machine typically starts fights slow, calm, and analytical.
02:41This time, he came with clear intent to hurt.
02:44More damage from Superlek.
02:46Flut coming from the face of Kalilov.
02:48And a nearly perfect opening three minutes for the great Superlek.
02:53By the end of the first round, Kalilov's face bore the evidence of Superlek's promise to cause visible damage.
03:01Going into the second, it was clear that his night was coming to an end.
03:05There is the head kick as Superlek's changing the level, and Kalilov crumbles.
03:11Superlek ramped up the aggression, unleashing devastating combinations that forced the referee to step in.
03:17Superlek! Cost waves it off! Another incredible victory!
03:21Superlek's devastating reply to Kalilov's words was a stark reminder.
03:22Even the most humble world champion has a limit.
03:23Superlek's devastating reply to Kalilov's words was a stark reminder.
03:28Even the most humble world champion has a limit.
03:29And angering one of the planet's top pound-for-pound strikers is a gamble few are likely to win.
03:34What destruction awaits when Superlek returns in Japan against Nabil Anand?
03:36Find out on March 23rd.
03:40At 1.172.
03:41At 1.172.
03:42Superlek's devastating reply to Kalilov's words was a stark reminder.
03:46Even the most humble world champion has a limit.
03:49Even the most humble world champion has a limit.
03:50And angering one of the planet's top pound-for-pound strikers is a gamble few are likely to win.
03:55What destruction awaits when Superlek returns in Japan against Nabil Anand?
04:01Find out on March 23rd.
04:04At 1.172.
04:07The battle at round number one.
04:12To be fast and furious.
04:15Three, three-minute rounds of Muay Thai.
04:17Superlek in the red blood.
04:19Kalilov on the blue.
04:20Opening a nice kick that connects to Superlek.
04:22Superlek.
04:29Consider it online.
04:30But this guy, is he live?
04:31Let me go.
04:32And he likes that role.
04:33Good footwork there by Superlek.
04:35Just disappearing on every single strike.
04:37A foul up here in this combination.
04:44Big step in.
04:45Big step in elbow.
04:46He's gonna throw the jab.
04:47We're gonna decide if he's changing into an elbow.
04:49And then a head kick.
04:51And you know this crowd is gonna react on every single strike from Superlek.
04:55As Kalilov responds with an outside leg kick.
04:58With a straight right in the big knee from Superlek on the fly.
05:01That's a cut from Kalilov.
05:03One minute in.
05:05Pick left elbow.
05:06An overhand right from Superlek.
05:08I think Kalilov, if he plans on sticking to the outside like this and hitting one shot at a time,
05:13this is gonna be a quick night for him.
05:15He needs to get to that inside and let those hands go where he normally goes.
05:20Let's respond to the left of Kalilov.
05:21But already blocked underneath the right eye of Kalilov.
05:23The challenger here.
05:24Takes a body shot.
05:25And then a head shot from Superlek, who's changing levels and showing everything in the opening round.
05:32Yeah, Superlek's coming out with venom here in this first round of those elbows too.
05:37He's not giving Kalilov the space that he needs to really let those hands go.
05:42He's coming from distance and really fast.
05:44And you can see Kalilov's face is already busted up.
05:47Round of the right eye.
05:49See blood on the full head as well.
05:51But the cuff appears to be it.
05:52Got an inch.
05:53Blood on the right eye and he takes an elbow.
05:55More damage from Superlek to the face of Kalilov.
05:58And then a body kick for good major.
06:00And another big elbow to the right.
06:03Yeah, Kalilov is in serious trouble right now.
06:06The distance that Superlek is coming into with those elbows.
06:12He's just coming right through the guard bridge with those elbows.
06:15Yeah, he's controlling that range and see Kalilov will throw a punch.
06:18Superlek will back out and then close distance with an elbow rather than like a longer jab.
06:24From the long range.
06:29Little steps in reverse for Superlek as he sets up the kick.
06:33Yup.
06:34That side of leg kick for Superlek.
06:36On the move again.
06:37The way that chopping right elbow has been devastating in the opening two and a half minutes.
06:43And Kalilov is starting to protect his body by dropping his elbows.
06:46That's going to leave his hand exposed.
06:48Or his head exposed.
06:50With his elbows.
06:51He's got to cover up.
06:52Because the hands come up to protect the elbows and the body opens up, Rich.
06:55Superlek has done it before.
06:57He's gone to the body a couple times with that kick.
06:59Make no mistake about it.
07:00Kalilov's hands are beginning to drop.
07:02Do not be shocked when he decides to come upstairs with that.
07:05Less than 10 seconds.
07:06Kalilov trying to survive the opening round.
07:08Strikes back.
07:09Swing and a miss.
07:10There's a body kick at the end of the round.
07:12A blood coming from the face of Kalilov.
07:14And a nearly perfect opening three minutes for the great Superlek.
07:18Yeah, this jam-packed crowd is getting on the side of Superlek.
07:24You can't stand with him.
07:26Work, work.
07:27Relax your shoulders.
07:28Use your arms.
07:29If you see his knees, escape from them.
07:30Two straight, two forward one.
07:31Swing and hit.
07:32Swing and hit.
07:33Yeah.
07:34Rich, he was under siege from the opening bell here.
07:35Kalilov was.
07:36He was.
07:37He was under siege from the opening bell here.
07:38Kalilov was.
07:39He was.
07:40He was.
07:41He was.
07:42He was.
07:43He was.
07:44He was.
07:45He was.
07:46He was.
07:47He was.
07:48He was.
07:49He was.
07:50He was.
07:51He was.
07:52He had a chance to, actually get that forward motion to get to the inside.
07:53We've seen in his highlights where he's able to rip those body shots, come upstairs to the
07:58head.
07:59But we see Superlek looking more like that, coming on the inside with these body shots and
08:03then going upstairs to the head.
08:05He was actually making use of his, not just his hands, but his elbows, the full length
08:14of limb.
08:15But that right there, that back out by Kalilov, that's dangerous because Superlek came to
08:19the body that time.
08:20Kalilov's hands were low.
08:21It's going to come to the head.
08:23Ball in round number two, outside leg kick,
08:25and Superlek to open the round.
08:27And it wants to impact this, but didn't land for Kalilov.
08:31Big leg kicks to start the round,
08:33and there is the head kick predicted by Rich Franklin,
08:36and Superlek's changing the levels
08:39and going knee to the bottom, and Kalilov crumbles.
08:45Kalilov covers a slip.
08:47He takes a count from Olivier since 30 seconds into the second.
08:50I don't know if I would have counted on a knockdown from this angle.
08:53It looked like he was just folding
08:55because they were kind of in that clutch,
08:56not in front of the actual striking.
08:59Koss gave him the count.
09:01Kalilov taking heavy damage again to open the second.
09:04See damage around that right eye,
09:06that blood streaming from his face in the front.
09:09They were able to clean it up momentarily.
09:12He gets more blood on the right side of the face,
09:15streaming down from Kalilov.
09:17Yeah, when you have a cut on the forehead, Grant,
09:19like, they bleed.
09:20They bleed a lot.
09:21They bleed in a way that it looks way worse
09:23than it is typically.
09:29War from the arsenal of Superlek here in the second.
09:32A choppy right elbow on the left elbow on the knee
09:35and the clinch from Superlek.
09:36Very aggressive in that boxing range with the elbows is Superlek.
09:43Leg kicks, body kicks, and there he is,
09:46toes in the distance.
09:47He is nullified with Kalilov being able to throw
09:49any kind of combinations on the inside
09:51with these elbow strikes.
09:53But it's also three rounds, Rich,
09:54so Superlek knows that he can go hard right
09:58from the opening bell, which he did,
10:00and not...
10:01Oh, that's it!
10:02And that's it!
10:03Cough weighs it off!
10:04Superlek!
10:07Another incredible victory for the great Superlek
10:10in front of his home fans here in Lupini.
10:13Superlek silencing the crowd to get the celebration he wanted
10:33and well deserved.
10:35Superlek is an absolute savage.
10:40Ninth straight victory.
10:42Now ten and one in one championship
10:44for the number one contender.
10:47And soaking in the moment.
10:53And as Superlek said himself,
10:54he's not looking for victories anymore.
10:56He's looking for knockouts.
11:06Miss early and often into his dominance
11:08showing his full arsenal.
11:11Yeah, look at that.
11:12Fakes the push kick,
11:13closes the distance,
11:14and then just starts teeing off with the elbows.
11:18Nothing Tagir Kalilov could throw had any effect
11:21on Superlek's pursuit of the finish.
11:25Walking through everything.
11:27The elbows, the leg kicks, the body kicks.
11:29Everything was on point, Mr. Franklin.
11:31Yeah, Superlek here.
11:32After he, even after he broke on these combinations,
11:34he was throwing the kick.
11:35But that kick right there by Kalilov,
11:36he just had trouble finding Superlek the entire time.
11:40Superlek's just swarming him.
11:41This is that knockdown that got counted.
11:42It looked to me like Kalilov was off balance.
11:43Either way, it didn't affect the outcome of the match.
11:44This was just Superlek overwhelming his opponent tonight
11:46from a high-caliber opponent.
11:48And Kalilov at that.
11:49And Kost had seen it off, waving it off in the second round.
11:54And in the main event tonight, Superlek.
11:57Unbelievable.
11:58Up to Tom Laugh for the particulars.
12:01Ladies and gentlemen,
12:02your referee, Mr. Olivier Kost, has called a stop to this contest
12:05after 1 minute and 42 seconds in the second round.
12:08For your winner by way of technical knockout!
12:11And Kost, Kost!
12:13And Kost!
12:14And Kost had seen it off, waving it off in the second round.
12:16And Kost had seen it off, waving it off in the second round.
12:19And in the main event tonight, Superlek.
12:21Unbelievable.
12:22Up to Tom Laugh for the particulars.
12:24Ladies and gentlemen,
12:25your referee, Mr. Olivier Kost,
12:27has called a stop to this contest
12:28after 1 minute and 42 seconds in the second round
12:30Superlek!
12:31Superlek!
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