ONE Championship: Liam Nolan’s return from retirement sees late change of opponent
Rather than the opportunity to avenge a recent defeat, the 27-year-old face Iran’s Abolfazl Alipourandi
Liam Nolan’s return to ONE Championship following a brief retirement hit a snag with a last-minute change of opponent for this weekend’s ONE Fight Night 31 in Bangkok.
Rather than the opportunity to avenge a recent defeat, the 27-year-old faces Iran’s Abolfazl Alipourandi.
“I was meant to fight Nauzet Trujillo, who beat me last year,” Nolan told the Post. “I was really looking forward to the rematch.
“But he pulled out, so they’ve given me a debut guy now.”
Despite the late switch, Nolan said he was grateful for the inspiration that brought him back to competition.
“I had a conversation with [ONE Championship CEO] Chatri [Sityodtong] and he was just like, ‘look man, you’re too good not to be fighting, you’ve got too much to give to the sport,’” he said. “It kind of just lit the fire back in me and gave me the push I needed.”