Antar Kacem as soon as took a struggle on lower than 24 hours’ discover — as a result of he wanted the cash. It led to a brutal knockout loss to Avatar PK Saenchai. For the French-Algerian striker, that lesson was painful however unforgettable: Desperation in fight sports activities can price you all the things.
Now, on this unique ONE Friday Fights 126 major card interview, Kacem displays on that have whereas making ready to return to Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium for ONE Friday Fights 126. The 27-year-old has constructed a status for his rangy body, knockout energy, and a willingness to struggle with all the things on the road.
ONE Friday Fights 126’s Kacem: “Preventing at Lumpinee has develop into a behavior”
For greater than two years, Kacem has been a fixture at Lumpinee Stadium, Muay Thai’s most storied area. As soon as reserved nearly solely for elite Thai fighters, the venue now hosts ONE’s weekly Friday collection, mixing custom with world publicity. Slowly, the gang that when noticed him as an outsider has began to cheer for him.
“Preventing at Lumpinee has develop into a behavior for me — I’ve been competing there for greater than two years now and I’m beginning to have followers. That motivates me much more for the longer term.”
The French-Algerian striker has realized that Lumpinee audiences respect not solely native heroes, but additionally international fighters keen to face within the hearth and ship. Every efficiency on the Bangkok stage turns into half of a bigger dialog about identification, perseverance, and the worldwide attain of Muay Thai.
Kacem’s KO Energy and Adaptability Going Into ONE Friday Fights 126
Kacem’s final outing ended with a highlight-reel left hook knockout over Panrit at ONE Friday Fights 90. It proved his punching energy can carry into the 140-pound catchweight division, however for this camp, he says adaptability is the true key.
“On this camp I’m centered on discovering the proper tempo and distance for every opponent from the very first spherical. Typically I struggle at mid-range, generally very lengthy, and even very shut — it depends upon who’s in entrance of me.”
Kacem Realized Classes From Defeat
On this ONE Friday Fights 126 major card interview, Kacem is blunt about the price of his lone KO loss.
“My solely KO loss in my profession was towards Avatar PK Saenchai. I took that struggle on very quick discover, lower than 24 hours after weigh-in, and with out actual preparation as a result of I wanted the cash. It didn’t go effectively, and I’ve realized to not make that sort of mistake once more.”
That single choice reshaped his strategy to preventing: by no means step into the ring with out being actually prepared. It additionally underscores the razor-thin margins that separate danger from reward at this degree of fight sports activities.
Kacem’s Mindset Forward of ONE Friday Fights 126: KO or Be KO’d
Outdoors the ring, Kacem doesn’t cling to inflexible routines or rituals. His mindset sharpens solely as soon as the gloves are on.
“Once I step inside, my mentality is straightforward: both I win by KO or I danger taking one.”
That philosophy has made Kacem one of the crucial unpredictable and harmful figures on ONE’s Friday Fights stage. On September 26, he’ll take a look at it towards Muangthai PK Saenchai, a 31-year-old Thai veteran nicknamed The Elbow Zombie for his relentless, elbow-heavy fashion.
📊 ONE Friday Fights 126: Story of the Tape
ONE Friday Fights 126Catchweight Muay Thai – 140 lbs
Antar Kacem (France/Algeria)
Peak: 183 cm (6’0”)
Fashion: Rangy striker, KO energy
Staff: Staff Nasser Okay
Spotlight: KO win at Fights 90 (Panrit)
Latest: KO win at ONE Friday Fights 90
VS
Muangthai PK Saenchai (Thailand)
Peak: 172 cm (5’8”)
Fashion: Strain fighter, deadly elbows
Staff: PK Saenchai Health club
Spotlight: Former Lumpinee Stadium Champion
Latest: UD win at ONE Friday Fights 114 (Saeksan)
📺 The way to Watch ONE Friday Fights 126
Date: Friday, September 26, 2025
Venue: Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok
Begin Time: 7:30 PM ICT (native Bangkok) / 8:30 AM ET
Broadcast: Free dwell stream worldwide on the ONE Championship YouTube channel
For Kacem, the stakes are easy: maintain the momentum rolling, or danger turning into one other spotlight in Muangthai’s elbow reel. For followers, this ONE Friday Fights 126 major card interview presents greater than a preview — it’s a window into the mindset of a fighter navigating each survival and spectacle
