Danial Williams Says He Has Identified ‘A Few Holes’ in Rui Botelho’s Game Ahead of ONE Fight Night 8

‘Mini T’ Danial Williams will resume his quest in ONE Championship’s Muay Thai ranks at ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video this Friday, March 24. After having a 3-1 run in the strawweight MMA division last year, the Australian-Thai slugger makes his long-awaited return to the “art of eight limbs” against Portuguese star Rui Botelho when ONE returns to the Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

While Williams still hopes to continue switching between disciplines in the Circle, he admits he is solely focused on the upcoming task at hand. Speaking to ONE Championship, the three-sport thriller said, “He [Rui Botelho] has been around the block for a long time. He was also fighting at flyweight for a while, and he’s back at strawweight. It’s not going to be an easy fight. I just think he’s going to be a really hard fight. But I just feel that I can jump straight back in there at that top level.”

Making a name for oneself under multiple rulesets is a difficult feat, but Williams says the blend of martial arts during his training camp has given him the confidence to return to winning ways in ONE. 

Danial Williams has studied Rui Botelho thoroughly

The Kao Sok Muay Thai and Scrappy MMA athlete has been sharpening his striking in the hopes of scoring both a performance bonus and a highlight-reel finish, but he isn’t underestimating what the Lisbon fighter brings to the ring. 

Botelho possesses some massive power in his boxing combinations and kicks, but ‘Mini T’ feels he can beat the European kickboxing champion to the punch and hand him a taste of his own medicine when they start swinging at one another this Friday night.

Read More: Australian Sensation Danial Williams Sets His Eye on the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title – “That’s Mine…”

The Perth native stated, “I think he’s definitely got a few holes, so I think he’s very hittable, and I think I can block many of his shots. I just think there’s quite a lot. I feel like he’s very dominant with his hands. I think there are holes there when he starts swinging.

“His chin is open. I feel like he bites on feints a lot. So I feel that pressure, when you have that pressure with him, he’s moving like this. I feel he’s just open for a lot of shots because he’s thinking of that defense. I think I can exploit that a lot,” he added.

What are your thoughts on Danial Williams vs Rui Botelho? Tell us in the comments below.

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