10 Muay Thai Fighters To Watch On ONE Friday Fights In 2024

The Muay Thai world was abuzz with pleasure when Chatri Sityodtong introduced that world martial arts sensation, ONE Championship could be selling weekly fights within the historic Lumpinee Stadium in 2023. The Friday evening telecast has since been streamed to 154 international locations throughout the globe with many up-and-coming Nak Muays making the pilgrimage to Bangkok for an opportunity to show themselves worthy of a prestigious ONE contract.

Within the 12 months since its inception, many fighters have made their mark on the Friday fights, incomes huge efficiency bonuses, and gaining worldwide fame. A lot has already been written in regards to the likes of Seksan, the person who went 8-0 in 2023 or Johan Ghazali, the 16-year-old prodigy from america who secured himself a 6-fight contract on ONE’s worldwide promotions. So, this text goes to look past the champions and the fighters who’ve already made it to ONE’s fundamental stage. As a substitute, we’re going to have a look at a number of the up-and-comers who’ve proven coronary heart, braveness, and willpower on ONE: Friday Fights, and are names to maintain a watch out for this 2024.

1) Tyson Harrison

A large knockout win over Tum Winner MuayThai on Revolt in Australia on the tail finish of 2022 gave Tyson Harrison worldwide recognition. The victory was rewarded by the ONE matchmakers who instantly matched the Aussie towards Thai legend, Seksan on the very first installment of ONE Lumpinee. The ensuing bout was a traditional. Each males placed on spotlight reel performances leading to an especially slim break up choice that went the best way of the Thai native.

The loss didn’t sluggish the younger Aussie’s momentum. He proved that he had the center and tenacity to combat anybody after his conflict with the revered Thai legend and was rewarded with 4 extra fights on Friday Fights in 2023. The leads to these bouts had been blended. Harrison solely received two of those, along with his last coming by first-round stoppage from one other Thai legend, Kulabdam. However his grit, ferocity, and willpower have made him a fan favourite with many eagerly awaiting his return to the hallowed Bangkok stadium.

2) Josh Hill

UK super-welterweight, Josh Hill, made his ONE Friday Fights debut on Jan twentieth following a dream 2022, the place he went undefeated in seven fights, capturing the ISKA World Title and UK Fighter of the 12 months award within the course of. His opponent, Keivan Soleimani, introduced controversy to the weigh-ins when he missed weight by 7 lbs and failed ONE’s obligatory hydration testing. Josh took the combat regardless of the evident weight drawback, adjusting his technique to out-kick the aggressive Soleimanito take a unanimous factors victory.

Josh’s first victory granted him the possibility to return to ONE’s Friday fights in fashion. On Might fifth, he returned to Lumpinee to problem former WBC Muay Thai World Champion, Satanfah Sitsongpeenong. Regardless of fighting a chest an infection in camp and breaking his jaw early within the first spherical, Josh endured with the Thai champion. The pair traded fingers and elbows in what was a back-and-forth contest till Josh dropped Satanfah with a phenomenal left elbow within the dying seconds of the combat to safe the victory.

Josh is eyeing a return to Lumpinee in 2024 and has introduced that he’s hoping to get matched towards extra champion Thais reminiscent of Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong or Chanajon PK Saenchai.

3) Natalia Diachkova

Russian-born, Natalia Diachkova, was already a three-time world champion earlier than she migrated to Bangkok to make a reputation for herself within the mecca of Muay Thai. Now combating out of the esteemed Venum coaching camp in Bangkok, the “Karelian Lynx” has made a reputation for herself at ONE Lumpinee, successful all three of her fights on the iconic stadium in 2023.

After an amazing knockout victory in April, Natalia discovered herself matched towards WBC World #2, Lena Nocker. Speedy success with highly effective proper fingers noticed her flatten the Italian within the very first spherical. This led to a different huge combat, this time towards WBC European Champion, Hannah Brady, in September. This combat went the space, with each women buying and selling fingers and elbows in a crowd-pleasing traditional that has many eagerly awaiting the victorious Russian’s return in 2024.

4) Chanajon PK Saenchai

Chanajon was already a longtime Muay Thai champion lengthy earlier than he made his ONE Lumpinee debut in Might 2023. With a Rajadamnern Stadium Title, Isuzu Cup championship, and King’s Cup Event gold medal all on his mantle, there was little doubt that he was a grasp of the five-round Muay Thai format.

A victory over WBC Middleweight World Champion, Victor Hugo, in his debut proved that he might adapt his fashion to go well with three-round fights. In his following outing, he confirmed that he might adapt to the smaller gloves, knocking out Iranian, Mohamed Hanoun with large hand mixtures. In his last victory on ONE in 2023, he defeated British WBC World Champion, George Jarvis.

Sadly, Chanajon didn’t full 2023 undefeated. In his last outing in December Iranian, Mustafa Al Tekreeti, caught him with a large uppercut, stopping the Thai within the second spherical of their bout. However, with three large wins below his belt, together with wins over two totally different WBC World Champions, Chanajon has proved himself to be a worthy adversary for anybody keen to placed on the 4oz gloves.

5) Stephen Irvine

Scotsman, Stephen Irvine, made an announcement on the twenty third installment of ONE: Friday Fights when he stopped Pettong Kiatsongrit within the second spherical of their three-round conflict. The WMO European Champion proved that he’s completely suited to the fast-paced ONE format, catching kicks and countering with fingers and elbows to earn three knockdowns earlier than referee, Elias Dolaptsis referred to as an finish to the bout.

The younger strawweight confirmed that his first outing wasn’t a fluke when he returned to Lumpinee in August. This time he challenged the present Lumpinee and Channel 7 stadium champion Panthep VK Khaoyai, as soon as once more utilizing ahead strain and heavy hand mixtures to power a knockout stoppage within the second spherical.

Stephen introduced extra of his aggressive Muay Mat fashion to the ring when he confronted Thai, Singdomthong, in October. The pair slugged it out for 3 rounds of toe-to-toe motion that had the group screaming. Sadly, a well-placed left hook dropped Irvine early within the combat and regardless of a tenacious present of coronary heart, he was unable to make up the bottom that he misplaced on the scorecards.

Regardless of the setback, Irvine has been vocal on social media, proclaiming his objective of changing into the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion so there isn’t a doubt he’ll be returning to Friday fights if he desires to make that objective a actuality.

6) River Daz

In the beginning of 2023, Melbourne native River Daz relocated to Fairtex Gymnasium in Pattaya bringing little greater than an undefeated Muay Thai document and the dream of a ONE contract with him. The previous WMC Australian champion, recognized for his quick fingers and evasive footwork was granted his first loss when he made his Friday Fights debut towards the Romanian, Silviu Vitez in June.

The Australian wasn’t deterred by the loss and instantly took his champion work ethic again to the fitness center to organize for his subsequent probability at ONE success. His arduous work and dedication paid off in September when ONE referred to as searching for a last-minute substitute to face PK Saenchai Gymnasium’s Nonthakit Tor Morsri on solely 48 hours’ discover.

It was this combat that received River again within the winner’s circle and granted him yet one more large alternative, this time to combat Seksan on ONE’s last Friday Struggle card of 2023. The 2 males went head-to-head for 9 minutes, buying and selling fingers and elbows from the opening bell to the shut with Seksan being granted a razor-close break up choice win.

Regardless of the loss, River has proven himself to be a person able to difficult anybody within the ONE 140lb Muay Thai roster, and it’s virtually sure he’ll be again once more in 2024.

7) Junior Fairtex

18-year-old Muay Ying, Junior Fairtex, had a breakout 12 months in 2023 with three fights for 3 wins on ONE Friday Fights. Her first combat, a rematch towards rival Pancake Kiattongyot proved to be an in depth contest with Junior edging her opponent out for a break up factors victory.

Along with her first combat out of the best way and her confidence within the small gloves rising, Junior discovered her stride. She adopted an aggressive Muay Mat fashion for her following fights and she or he relentlessly hunted her following opponents throughout the ring with hardly a backward step. The tireless barrage of fingers outworked Chinese language fighter, Wang Yue to a unanimous factors victory in July and compelled a second-round stoppage of Turkish, Zehra Dogan in September.

8) Kongthoranee Sor Sommai

Kongthoranee had a busy 12 months on ONE Lumpinee, combating on the promotion seven occasions. He had a shaky begin to his ONE profession, shedding to fellow countryman, Petsukmvit Boi Bangna in April however a swift return to type noticed him rack up six wins on the bounce over the next eight months.

Kongthoranee has proved to be a flexible fighter. Harmful with each fingers and elbows, he’s even been recognized to throw an explosive leaping knee when the chance arises. His thrilling fashion has been famous by the matchmakers at ONE who awarded the Thai a fundamental occasion combat on the forty eighth installment of Friday Fights earlier this month the place he prolonged his win streak with a dominant factors victory over Russian, Sharif Mazoriev. So, it’s secure to say that we are going to be seeing a lot extra of him in 2024.

9) Nongam Fairtex

One other feminine fighter from the well-known Fairtex Gymnasium, Nongam Fairtex made an announcement on ONE Friday Fights in 2023 by going undefeated in all 4 of her bouts on the promotion. Very similar to her stablemate, Junior, Nongam is in her factor throwing down within the 4oz gloves. Her ahead strain and highly effective proper hand led her to devastating KO victories over Chinese language, Chu Nga Sze and former Lion Struggle World Champion, Lisa Brierley.

Sadly, Nongam’s trademark proper hand sustained a critical harm in her last combat of 2024 the place she secured a unanimous choice win towards fellow Thai, Phetchumpair Highland Gymnasium and she or he is at the moment out of motion till it heals. In the meantime, followers of the tenacious Muay Ying await her return.

10) ET TDED99

The 29-year-old Thai from the notorious Bangkok Tded99 fitness center made waves in Lumpinee Stadium when he flattened Apiwat Sor Somnuk with a flying knee within the opening seconds of his debut bout. The efficiency earned him a return to the ONE enviornment in Might the place he confronted the beforehand talked about, Kongthoranee in the primary occasion of the promotion’s sixteenth installment. The 2 males traded fingers, elbows, and flying knees in an in depth contest that noticed ET arising quick on the bulk choice end result.

Following the shut loss ET disappeared from the ONE enviornment for six lengthy months, solely returning to Lumpinee in November to face Kongthoranee’s stablemate, Mongkolkaew Sor Sommai. The bout proved to be a return to type for ET who slept Mongkolkaew with a well-timed left elbow within the very first minute of the combat.

With two spotlight reel finishes and an absolute conflict towards considered one of ONE Lumpinee’s most energetic and profitable fighters, it’s certain to be solely a matter of time earlier than we see ET return to ONE’s Friday Fights.