Liam Nolan is out to make some noise in combat sports.
The London-born Muay Thai star returned to ONE Championship in 2022 after a three-fight stint a few years ago as he marked his long-awaited comeback with a TKO victory over Kim Kyung Lock. A knockout defeat to Sinsamut Klinmee followed before he returned to winning ways with a decision victory against Eddie Abasolo in November of last year.
That remains Nolan's last bout after having to pull out of a fight in August due to injury. However, after a year away from battle, he takes on the man that knocked him out in a rematch where he attempts to right that wrong on November 4. In an exclusive interview with Daily Star Sport, the ONE Championship star details how he's coped with the long lay-off.
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"It's been okay to be fair, obviously I want to compete but I got injured, I've been offered fights but injuries happen," the 26-year-old said. "I've still been training and kept in the gym so its not like I'm rusty, I don't think ring rust will come into it at all, if anything because I haven't fought for a while, I feel very motivated to put on a bit of a statement, I feel more hungry because of that time off.
Taking on an opponent that stopped you in the ring could be a daunting task but for Nolan, his focus remains on getting that win back against the Thai Klinmee. "I lost the first fight, it's still a fight I know I can win, I'm very motivated to get back in there and show everyone what can I do and show I can win that fight and that I'm a better fighter," he insisted.
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Already looking ahead to next year, the middleweight was enthusiasm about the potential of a mixed-rules fight in ONE given the organisation hosted a fight of that nature between ex-UFC legend Demetrious Johnson and ONE Flyweight Muay Thai champion, Rodtang Jitmuangnon in 2022 as the pair alternated between MMA and Muay Thai rounds.
The Brit already had an opponent in mind should he be the next fighter to take part in a special rules fight. "I want to do a mixed rules fight next year, I want to fight Sage Northcutt, who's in my weight class, I would love to fight him in a mixed rules fight, first round Muay Thai, second round MMA.
The ex-UFC star – who fights in the same division as Nolan – recently returned to the ring in May as he defeated Ahmed Mutjaba after four years out of the ring due to facial injuries suffered in a knockout loss to Cosmo Alexandre in 2019.
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