“Mini T” is set to challenge Jonathan Di Bella for the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE Fight Night 15: Tawanchai vs. Superbon on Friday, October 6th – in what will be his second World Title fight in the promotion.
In his last outing at ONE Fight Night 8 this past April, Williams stepped in on short notice and moved up to flyweight to try and take the Superlek kickboxing crown. Unfortunately, his valiant effort was stopped short in the third round by “The Kicking Machine.”
Danial Williams ready to lay everything out against Jonathan Di Bella
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
This time, however, the Aussie-Thai spitfire will be fighting at his natural weight, and he’ll have had ample opportunity to put together a full training camp before stepping into action, so he’ll be well-prepped to take full advantage of the World Title opportunity.” Getting this fight has been such a big, big excitement. I feel like this is everything I’ve worked for, like this is my chance. I feel like this is it for me,” Williams told ONE Championship in an interview.
“This is my opportunity now. The next eight weeks are just going to be full-on. No distractions. Just work to be the best I can be after the 20 years of martial arts I have done.” The Kao Sok Muay Thai and Scrappy MMA athlete has been open about his desire to pursue World Titles in multiple sports in the world’s largest martial arts organization. After competing in four MMA fights in 2022, he now shifts his focus to the kickboxing throne.
Beating undefeated Jonathan Di Bella is not a cakewalk
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
It will be an uphill battle against the undefeated Di Bella. The 27-year-old captured the vacant kickboxing throne in his promotional debut last October, stopping Chinese striking phenom Zhang Peimian’s meteoric rise in a five-round classic. However, Williams is willing to put everything on the line to not only take the undefeated Canadian-Italian’s 0 away but also the World Title.
“It would mean everything [to win a ONE World Title]. This is going to be like fighting myself in there because I’ve got a lot to prove. The World Title has been my goal since I started. It’s been a really hard journey getting there, and this is where I’m finding myself. I’ve got to prove to myself that I deserve it,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“I feel like because this is in my control, this is do or die. That’s how I’m treating it. There are no excuses in this match. There’s nothing I can fall back on. This is it. I don’t see losing as an option.”