When 21-year-old Muay Thai phenom Nabil Anane captured the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship at ONE 170 this past January, he looked down to find one of the central figures to his success story.
The Thai-Algerian superstar’s longtime coach and mentor, Mehdi “Diamond Heart” Zatout, has played an instrumental role in his professional development and personal growth ever since the 6-foot-4 fighter first walked into the gym.
With a decade of guidance and mentorship under the former ISKA and WBC World Champion, Anane has soared to new and unprecedented heights.
And despite all the success Anane enjoys today, there has never been a time when he failed to credit Zatout for the massive influence on his career.
The young striker told onefc.com:
“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. He was always behind me. He was my first coach, the first person to always push me in training.
“He taught me many things—many, many things. I don’t really remember one specific thing, but he has taught me a lot.”
The Pattaya native began his martial arts journey at the age of 7, but it wasn’t until he began working under the tutelage of the Team Mehdi Zatout founder that he was equipped with all the skills and techniques needed to take on the Muay Thai world.
Zatout evolved his student from a raw talent into a polished striking machine, who made history by becoming the youngest-ever WBC Muay Thai World Champion at just 17 years old.
While “Diamond Heart” has never gone easy on Anane, the youngster knew the constant grind and dedication would one day bear fruit.
Now, with 26 pounds of gold resting on his shoulders, the striking phenom has firmly established himself as one of the sport’s brightest talents.
Along the way, his relationship with Zatout has also grown, with the latter playing the role as Anane’s coach, mentor, and brother all rolled into one:
“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. That’s what makes me feel like I’m his little brother.
“Sometimes he buys stuff for me. We eat outside together. Even last time when we were in Japan, he brought me to different places. We are more than student and coach—we are more like family.”
Inspired By Words Of Wisdom After Early Setback
Perhaps most crucially, Zatout’s guidance proved invaluable when Anane took on reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 in his promotional debut.
Against one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world today, the young gun suffered a heartbreaking first-round knockout loss in their flyweight Muay Thai contest at ONE Friday Fights 22 in June 2023.
Rather than allowing defeat to derail his protégé’s confidence, Zatout provided the perspective necessary to maintain Anane’s long-term focus:
“[After I lost to Superlek,] he told me, ‘It wasn’t our time. You still have a lot of time, so don’t rush.'”
This patient approach has laid the foundation for the 21-year-old’s rise from a young warrior into a bona fide superstar.
Anane hasn’t looked back since, going on an impressive seven-fight win streak with three knockouts over big-time opponents Nakrob Fairtex, “Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai, and Nico “King of the North” Carrillo.
Most recently, Anane finally got his revenge with a unanimous decision victory over Superlek at ONE 172 this past March.
And just as he did after stunning Carrillo in one round to claim the interim bantamweight Muay Thai gold, Anane shared a moment with the man who has played a pivotal role in his meteoric rise in the world’s largest martial arts organization.