03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Abolfazl Alipourandi ends Liam Nolan's ONE Championship return in just 59 seconds
Abolfazl Alipourandi seized his opportunity in emphatic fashion with a 59-second walk-off knockout against Liam Nolan at ONE Fight Night 31 on Saturday.
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The Englishman had briefly retired after losing to Nauzet Trujillo last year but was inspired to return in hopes of exacting revenge in a rematch.
However, when the Spaniard pulled out, Alipourandi jumped at the chance to make his ONE Championship debut.
And with less than a minute gone, unleashed a perfect kick to his opponent's head, leaving the former WBC Muay Thai world champion folded on the canvas.
'The high kick is my favourite,' Alipourandi told the Post. 'I noticed when I was kicking Liam, I saw an opening. I was doing low kicks – it looked like I'd do another one, but instead I went straight up to the neck.
Abolfazl Alipourandi connects with a brutal kick to Liam Nolan's head at ONE Fight Night 31. Photo: ONE Championship
'I felt amazing. My emotions are so high because Liam is really good, and I came in on short notice. For me now, because I've beaten Liam – and he's high level, just like most of the guys in the division – it's anyone, anytime, anyplace.