ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane’s meteoric rise to the top of the striking world hasn’t happened by accident.
Behind the 21-year-old phenom stands a mentor whose influence extends far beyond the training room.
Former ISKA and WBC World Champion Mehdi Zatout discovered Anane as a teenager and has been instrumental in moulding him into the towering force that now holds interim gold.
The relationship began when Anane joined Venum Training Camp at just 14 years old. What started as a coach-student dynamic has evolved into something much deeper over the years.
“He was the first guy who held pads for me. And I don’t even know what to say about it –he’s also one of the reasons why I’m here today,” Anane said. “He was always behind me. He was my first coach, the first person to always push me in training.”
Zatout, who competed in ONE Championship from 2018 to 2024, understood the pressures of elite competition better than most. His experience as a former ONE star gave him unique insight into what Anane would face on his journey to championship status.
The bond between the two extends well beyond the confines of the gym, creating a familial atmosphere that has been crucial to Anane’s development.
“It’s not just in the camp. Even outside training, we are always together – we go eat together, we do everything. It’s just like how I am with my little brother,” Anane explained. “We are more than student and coach – we are more like family.”
That family dynamic proved particularly valuable during Anane’s toughest moments.
After suffering his only career loss to Superlek Kiatmoo9 in his debut in 2023, Zatout’s wisdom helped put the defeat in perspective.
“[After I lost to Superlek,] he told me, ‘It wasn’t our time. You still have a lot of time, so don’t rush,'” Anane recalled.
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