Olivia “Diamond” Bahsous is a teenage knockout threat who has absolutely breezed past both of her opponents on ONE Championship’s global stage. This Canadian sensation is back in the ring, set to meet fellow 16-year-old Malia Weaver in a women’s atomweight Muay Thai showdown at The Inner Circle 35. This isn’t just about another fight, though; it’s about a bond that forged a phenom.
From Toddler Runs to Thailand’s Bright Lights
Before Olivia was “Diamond,” she was just a little girl who wanted to be with her dad, Tanios. And Tanios? He was a Canadian Muay Thai national champion who tested his skills all over Thailand’s stadium circuit. Imagine, Olivia first landed in the birthplace of “the art of eight limbs” when she was just two years old. To keep his toddler close during daily roadwork, Tanios even strapped Olivia onto his wife’s baby carrier and ran five kilometers with her on his back. Olivia still laughs about how bumpy that ride was!
“I’ve been in the gym ever since I can remember,” Olivia told onefc.com. “My dad used to fight too. I just wanted to spend a lot of time with him. When I was young, I didn’t really get to see him much. He was always working. Whenever I had a chance to be with him, it was usually at the gym. That’s where I kind of found out who I wanted to be. But my love for the sport first came because I loved my dad and I wanted to spend time with him.” That’s the real talk right there, isn’t it? A father’s love, building a champion. Those morning runs soon gave way to high-stakes nights, with Olivia watching from ringside, inches from the action, soaking it all in.
Her Own Ring, Her Own Roar
Watching her dad compete in bigger stadiums from about age five, Olivia would run into the ring to collect his trophies and medals after his wins. She says she “loved the feeling of people cheering for me. I thought it was for me when it was for my dad. But after I got older, I wanted to make that feeling for myself. I started to think that I could fight and get the feeling of being able to inspire other people, like my dad inspired me.” Talk about a moment of clarity!
Those innocent gym sessions quickly morphed into serious training. Olivia had her first fight at nine, and by 12, she had a fierce competitive streak that couldn’t be denied. Her mom, a university-trained teacher, even began homeschooling Olivia and her siblings so the aspiring talent could train full-time. Still, a mother’s heart is a mother’s heart. Olivia remembers, “I remember seeing my mom, she was so scared. Maybe for like a week before the fight, she just looked at me and wanted to memorize my face just in case anything happened.” After Olivia lost that first fight, her mom kept asking, “Are you done? Are you sure you want this?” She wanted her “girly daughter who did dance or ballet or something.” But now? “She’s my biggest supporter.” You love to see it, a family united behind a dream.
Olivia “Diamond” Bahsous meets Malia Weaver this Friday, October 16, live in Asia primetime. You can catch the women’s atomweight Muay Thai showdown exclusively for members on live.onefc.com, streaming straight from Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium. Get ready, because this young phenom is just getting started, and another knockout could be on the horizon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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