For ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane, success has never been a solo journey. The 21-year-old Algerian-Thai striker has carved his path to the top alongside his younger brother Yonis.
When Yonis made his ONE Championship debut in June 2025, defeating China's Liu Junchao by unanimous decision, it marked another milestone in a shared story that began over a decade ago.
The Anane brothers' martial arts odyssey started when Nabil was 11 and Yonis just 8 years old, training side by side under identical circumstances at Team Mehdi Zatout.
"We started everything at the same time. I was 11 and he was 8 when we started. Same training, same journey. My father was behind me, but also behind him. Everything is the same. He's just a little younger and not as tall as me," Nabil said.
Their father's unavering support proved crucial in overcoming early family resistance to their fighting aspirations.
"My mom is like any mom – she didn't want me to fight because she was scared. But my father was behind me. Even my little brother fights, so it was three against one. She couldn't say anything because we all loved this sport. But she's very supportive of us," the champion revealed.
That family unity has forged an unbreakable connection between the brothers that continues to fuel their success.
"We do everything together. We're very, very close. We know everything about each other. We're like brothers and best friends. We motivate each other, just like friends," Nabil said.
Despite their shared foundation, Nabil recognizes unique qualities in his 18-year-old brother that complement his own 6-foot-4 frame and 7-1 ONE Championship record.
"He's more technical than me. He kicks well, and his movement is really good. He was very aggressive in his first fight. He can change his style depending on his opponent."
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