Abdulla Dayakaev left Lumpinee Stadium with stitches, a split decision win over Superlek Kiatmoo9, and an immediate apology for the weight miss that had overshadowed his week.
The Russian contender edged one of the most debated fights in recent ONE Championship history on Friday night in Bangkok, knocking Superlek down after less than 40 seconds before surviving a brutal late rally from the Thai superstar on The Inner Circle.
One judge scored the bout for Superlek, believing his third-round barrage in the clinch was enough to override the early knockdown.
The other two sided with Dayakaev, whose first-round damage proved decisive in a razor-close bantamweight Muay Thai contest.
Abdulla Dayakaev consoles Superlek after his split decision win
Dayakaev, who had missed weight by 3.2lbs on Thursday, said he understood the criticism but insisted he had not taken his responsibilities lightly.
“I want to say sorry to Chatri,” Dayakaev told the Bangkok Post backstage. “I did everything for this.
“Yesterday, I did everything the same. I went running, after I came back we had only two kilos. I always do this with sauna. I sat in the sauna one hour and lost only 300 grams.
“What can I do? I already finished my body.”
The result was immediately questioned by fans online, with many arguing Superlek deserved the decision after storming back through rounds two and three.
Abdulla Dayakaev pressures Superlek during their clash at Lumpinee Stadium
Superlek, who was badly dazed by Dayakaev’s right hand in the opening minute, later admitted he could not remember anything after the first round.
The 30-year-old Thai still found a way back into the fight, battering Dayakaev with knees in the clinch in the third round as the Russian faded badly.
Dayakaev said he had sensed a finish after the knockdown, but was wary of making the same mistake he made in his shock second-round TKO loss to Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon in January.
“Of course I wanted to knock him out,” Dayakaev said. “But I didn’t want to be the same as last time with Rambolek.
“I am not Terminator for three rounds. I needed to be a little bit smart. I fought with a legend.”
Dayakaev was humble in victory, repeatedly praising Superlek for accepting the catchweight fight and calling him an inspiration from his youth.
“I respect Superlek,” he said. “He accepted this fight. He is a legend. I love this guy.
“When I was a kid, I watched him fight too much. When I had no motivation to go to the gym, I watched him fight with Rodtang.”
Superlek heads to the ring at Lumpinee Stadium
But the 23-year-old was also visibly hurt by the reaction to his weight miss, saying he had received a barrage of abusive messages on social media before the fight.
Dayakaev delayed his backstage interview after the win so he could speak to his mother in Dagestan.
“She did not watch my fight,” he said, smiling. “After last time, when I fought Rambolek, she cried too much.
“When I came back home, my mum cried. But I cannot give up.”
Dayakaev said his father had read some of the online comments and told him to answer them in the ring.
“My father read everything yesterday and he was very angry,” he said. “I said, ‘I will shut up this guy tomorrow.’
“When I went in the ring, you see all Thai guys like this. I don’t understand why. If everyone comes to Russia, Russian guys will be very happy for you.”
Superlek, for his part, looked devastated after suffering a third straight defeat at bantamweight.
The former flyweight Muay Thai champion remains the ONE flyweight kickboxing title-holder, and calls are likely to grow for him to return to the division where he built one of the promotion’s great modern runs.
But despite the loss, Superlek spent more than an hour taking photos with fans outside Lumpinee Stadium, with a queue snaking through the parking lot long after his fight had finished.
Dayakaev, meanwhile, said he still believes he has a future at bantamweight and begged ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong for another chance after his scale fail.
“I want to stay at bantamweight,” Dayakaev said. “I want to try to win this belt.
“Chatri, sorry. I think you can give me one chance.”
Superlek crashes a knee into Abdulla Dayakaev during a third-round fightback
Dayakaev said he wants to run back his January loss to Rambolek, who later beat his teammate Nabil Anane to claim the bantamweight Muay Thai title in March.
“Rambolek, I want to meet you again and fight with you again,” Dayakaev said. “I want to try this chance for the title.
“Now I won against a legend. Everyone said Superlek prepared very good for this fight. He came back to Yokkao.
“I told you before the fight, for me it doesn’t matter if you sleep in the gym. I came here for war. I think I did a great job. I am the new generation.”
