A flyweight fight between two top Thais has been added to the ONE Friday Fights 58 card. Muangthai PKSaenchaigym will be taking on Nakrob Fairtex at Lumpinee Stadium on April 5th.
Muangthai has been on the ONE Championship roster since 2018. He is perhaps best known for the part he played in the incredible 2022 fight with Liam Harrison although he was on the losing end that day.
Muangthai is a former Lumpinee and Channel 7 champion and has won four out of his last six fights. He is coming off a decision loss to Nabil Anane at ONE Friday Fights 46.
Nakrob also has a loss to Anane on his record. He was knocked out by the Algerian teenager at ONE Friday Fights 32 but it is his only recent defeat.
The 19 year old has competed seven times on these events and won six of those fights. A win over Muangthai would potentially be enough to earn him a long term contract with ONE Championship.
FLAWLESS VICTORY đź’Ż Nabil Anane dominates Muangthai for a unanimous decision win!
Purchase the global PPV to catch the rest of the ONE Friday Fights 46 main card now 👉 https://t.co/jfIb0FPa6M#ONEFridayFights46 | 🔴 Live Now
🌍 Global PPV on https://t.co/eBUfsOlZOd | 9:30PM… pic.twitter.com/SxlrJ0zX8T— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) December 22, 2023
Kickboxing titles
There are two kickboxing title fights currently on the card and one of them will serve as the main event. Superbon Banchamek will be looking to win the interim featherweight title when he faces Marat Grigorian for the third time.
Both men share a win apiece from the previous two meetings Chingiz Allazov, who won the belt by knocking out Superbon, is reportedly taking a break.
Just 29 seconds into match, Belgium's Marat Grigorian KOed Thai fighter Superbon Banchamek, defending champon of 70kg, in Kunlun Fight pic.twitter.com/acGTHEF8Sc
— Xinhua Sports (@XHSports) February 8, 2018
Champions collide
Meanwhile Jonathan Di Bella will be defending his strawweight kickboxing belt against Prajanchai PKSaenchaigym at Lumpinee Stadium on April 5th.
De Bella will be making the second defence of the title he won in 2022. This will be the first time in the Canadian’s career that he has faced a Thai opponent.
Prajanchai is the reigning strawweight Muay Thai champion. He won the belt for the second time by beating Joseph Lasiri at ONE Friday Fights 46 last December.
PAYBACK đź‘‘ Prajanchai exacts revenge on Joseph Lasiri to reclaim the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title!
Purchase the global PPV to catch the rest of the ONE Friday Fights 46 main card now 👉 https://t.co/jfIb0FPa6M#ONEFridayFights46 | 🔴 Live Now
🌍 Global PPV on… pic.twitter.com/DIcFSMZnxA— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) December 22, 2023
Contrasting trajectories
Two top Thai fighters whose careers appear to be heading in opposing directions will go head to head in a fight that has plenty at stake even if there isn’t a belt on the line. Former ONE Championship bantamweight king Nong-O Gaiyanghadao has been matched with Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek U-Thai.
Nong-O is coming off two stoppage losses. Another damaging defeat could potentially end the career of the 37 year old who held multiple titles at Lumpinee and Rajadamnern and was one of the best fighters of his generation.
Kulabdam is 12 years younger and is coming off four straight wins on the ONE Championship Friday night events. A victory over Nong-O would surely earn the former Lumpinee champion a multi fight contract with the promotion.
ONE Friday Fights 58, Bangkok, April 5thÂ
Kickboxing: Superbon Banchamek (c) vs. Marat Grigorian (For interim featherweight title)
Kickboxing: Jonathan Di Bella (c) vs. Prajanchai PKSaenchaigym (For strawweight title)
Muay Thai: Nong-O Gaiyanghadao vs. Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek U-Thai (Bantamweight)
