Abdulla “Smash Boy” Dayakaev pulled off the upset of the night at The Inner Circle on Friday, May 15. The Russian edged ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek by split decision. A first round knockdown made all the difference in the bantamweight Muay Thai matchup.
The result puts Dayakaev back in the title picture at 135 pounds. He lost a heartbreaker to Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon in January. Rambolek went on to claim the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title. Dayakaev now improves to 16-3.
How the fight unfolded
Dayakaev came out calm and composed in round one. He expected Superlek to lead with kicks. When the Thai obliged, Dayakaev countered with a right hand. It sent his foe to the canvas for an eight count.
Superlek rose visibly shaken. The Russian moved in for the finish but absorbed a sharp right elbow. The strike stopped Superlek in his tracks and damaged his eye. Both men reset to close the round.
Superlek came out firing in round two. He tripled up on low kicks and clinched whenever Dayakaev moved in close. The Russian, 24, struggled to repeat his round one success.
Round three followed the same pattern. Superlek blasted knees through the guard and dominated in the clinch. But the knockdown from round one cast a long shadow. The judges gave Dayakaev the nod on a split decision.
Title implications
The win reignites Dayakaev’s path to a world title shot. He took out one of ONE’s most decorated strikers to do it. Superlek dropped a third consecutive loss after defeats to Nabil Anane and Yuki Yoza.
Questions will follow about the Thai icon’s future at bantamweight. Dayakaev, meanwhile, has the most important win of his career. The path back to a title fight just opened up.