Portuguese striker Rui Botelho believes he’s primed for a breakout performance this Friday, November 3, at ONE Fight Night 16: Haggerty vs. Andrade on Prime Video. The 28-year-old is now less than a day away from his strawweight kickboxing clash against former World Title challenger Zhang Peimian live in U.S. primetime from the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
A former European Kickboxing Champion with a well-rounded, ultra-aggressive style, Botelho has struggled to win consistently in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Rui Botelho wants to present himself as a strong title contender with a victory over Peimian
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Despite suffering defeats, the Dinamite Team representative has done plenty to prove he belongs among the elite, going the distance with top talents like Taiki Naito and kickboxing kingpin Superlek Kiatmoo9. When he squares off with Peimian, he’ll be facing a dangerous knockout artist who just last year challenged for the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.
With that in mind, Botelho believes a victory on Friday night could propel him to a crack at divisional titleholder Jonathan Di Bella. “This fight will be the beginning of my journey toward the ONE [Strawweight] Kickboxing World Title. I think a victory over him could put me in a fight for the World Title next.” Known for his heavy hands, durability, and willingness to engage in a firefight, the Portuguese star is ready for a barnburner against “Fighting Rooster.”
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Botelho is confident about being the one who gets interviewed by Mitch Chilson first
For his part, Permian is one of the fastest and most explosive strikers in the strawweight kickboxing division, already revered for his electrifying style at just 20 years old. According to Botelho, fans can look forward to a thriller at ONE Fight Night 16, and he’s confident he’ll be leaving Bangkok a winner.
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He added, “I think it will be an interesting fight for the public. But, without a doubt, at the end of the fight, I’m the one who will talk to Mitch Chilson”. ONE Fight Night 16 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, November 3. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is free for all Prime Video subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
READ MORE – 3 Questions That Will Be Answered At ONE Fight Night 16