Liam
Nolan wants be a ONE
Championship muay thai title holder by the end of 2024.
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One on Prime Video 18 saw the British fan favorite take on
Russian striker Ali Aliev,
who stepped up on short notice for French Glory Kickboxing veteran
Theo Avon. Nolan earned a unanimous decision win over Aliev in his
first bout since November 2022.
Nolan started his ONE Championship tenure on a two-fight skid, but
he bounced back with consecutive wins over Brown Pinas
and Kim Kyung Lock. Nolan then came up short against former
lightweight title challenger Sinsamut
Klinmee before besting Eddie
Abasolo. Nolan was then out of competition throughout 2023 due
to health issues, which forced him to miss out on a rematch against
Klinmee.
He believes his latest win over Aliev now puts him only one fight
away from a title shot against lightweight champ Regian
Eersel.
“To fight next, I don’t know but I definitely want to be ending the
year with a ONE belt on my shoulder…I believe so [that I’m close to
a title shot],” Nolan said following his latest victory. “I believe
I will fight once more before that, but I reckon this year that
fight has a good potential for happening.”
Asked about his roadmap to a potential win against the Dutch champ,
Nolan didn’t want to reveal too much.
“I think I have a good style to beat him under the muay thai
ruleset,” he said. “I don’t want to give too much away but yeah, I
definitely think I have the style, the power and everything to go
and do that. I think I’m the man to do it.”
Nolan is also still interested in an opportunity to avenge his loss
against Klinmee, which could also make him relevant in the title
picture.
“Yes, I’m open to that,” Nolan said. “Obviously, it was meant to
happen in November but I’m more than happy to face him this
year.”