Pure Fireworks: 10 Of The Best Muay Thai And Kickboxing Fights In 2024 So Far
As home to the strongest roster of elite strikers on the planet, ONE Championship delivers world-class stand-up battles week in and week out.
Fans have already been treated to a huge amount of thrilling contests at the promotion’s Asia and U.S. primetime shows in 2024 – and there are still five more months to go.
From epic World Title contests to hungry rising stars giving it their all for recognition on the global stage, the skills and courage of ONE’s warriors have made every event must-watch material.
Here are 10 of the most exciting Muay Thai and kickboxing fights of the year so far in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Superlek vs. Takeru
“The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 welcomed Takeru “The Natural Born Crusher” Segawa to ONE in a thrilling five-round war at ONE 165 on January 28.
The Thai icon put his ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title on the line in an epic main event against the Japanese legend and came out on top.
“The Kicking Machine” stayed true to his nickname by making mincemeat of his rival’s lead leg, but Takeru’s heart kept him moving forward.
“The Natural Born Crusher” almost got the reward for his massive show of courage when he stunned Superlek with an intense salvo in round three, although the reigning king survived.
The pair then exchanged hard strikes in the championship rounds, but Superlek’s damage overall earned him the hard-fought unanimous decision.
Chalawan vs. Kaoklai II
Chalawan Ngorbangkapi defeated Kaoklai Chor Hapayak for the second time in ONE and the third time overall with a dramatic comeback at ONE Friday Fights 52 on February 16.
The strawweight Muay Thai fight was all action from the start, but it truly roared to life when Kaoklai dropped his foe with heavy left hooks twice in round two.
Shaken but not defeated, Chalawan fired back in the final fame, using all of his weapons to daze his Thai compatriot before finishing the affair with a punishing elbow.
Soe Lin Oo vs. Masayoshi Tsuhashi
Also at ONE Friday Fights 52, “Man of Steel” Soe Lin Oo showcased his durability to defeat Masayoshi Tsuhashi in a great display of resilience.
Despite his attempts to dictate the pace of their bantamweight Muay Thai clash with aggression, the Myanmar star absorbed a lot of punishment from Tsuhashi’s kicks in round one.
That approach started to pay dividends in round two, as “Man of Steel” got inside with blistering punches and elbows before rallying with a pair of knockdowns in round three to get the job done.
Jonathan Haggerty vs. Felipe Lobo
Jonathan Haggerty defended his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title in an epic back-and-forth battle against challenger Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo at ONE Fight Night 19 on February 16.
Lobo slumped the defending king into the ropes with a furious volley of punches in the first round, but “The General” bounced back with a knockdown in round two.
Undeterred, the Brazilian had Haggerty in trouble again late in the frame, but the Brit came out firing and secured the knockout win 45 seconds into round three – putting an end to the remarkable encounter.
Pompet vs. Suriyanlek II
With five knockdowns across three rounds, the battle between Pompet PK Saenchai and Suriyanlek Por Yenying at ONE Friday Fights 54 on March 8 offered up enough entertainment to fill a whole card.
After getting floored twice early in their 132-pound catchweight Muay Thai contest, Suriyanlek started to turn the tables with a pair of knockdowns of his own – all inside the first two stanzas.
However, Pompet had enough gas left in the tank to drop his man in the final frame, edging out a tough decision after a bout that will live long in the memory.
Rodtang Vs. Denis Puric
There’s no such thing as a boring fight when Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon is involved, but give him an opponent like Denis “The Bosnian Menace” Puric, and you know there will be fireworks.
Nobody was surprised when their 141.25-pound kickboxing battle at ONE 167 churned out three intense rounds on June 7, with plenty of toe-to-toe exchanges in the pocket and dozens of heavy blows administered and received on both sides.
Ultimately, Rodtang got the better of things with his higher volume and accuracy, but Puric got the war he wanted with one of the men he respects the most in combat sports.
Tawanchai Vs. Nattawut II
Tawanchai PK Saenchai and “Smokin” Jo Nattawut had a lot to live up to immediately following the chaos of Rodtang vs. Puric, but the pair delivered a breathtaking five-round main event at ONE 167.
Fans were excited for their ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title bout after their hotly contested kickboxing clash last October, and it was just as close with the gold on the line.
Tawanchai blasted his foe with his trademark left kicks, while Nattawut chopped away with low kicks and punches.
The Thai stars grew into the match and started to draw on all areas of their arsenals, with Tawanchai earning another razor-close nod thanks to hard body kicks, punches, and elbows.
Prajanchai vs. Jonathan Di Bella
Prajanchai PK Saenchai captured the vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title with his win against Jonathan Di Bella in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 68 on June 28.
The two men were eager to duke it out after their originally scheduled matchup fell through, and they both gave it their all in a tense affair.
Di Bella controlled the early action with his crisp boxing and kicks at long range, but Prajanchai stormed back by wading in with heavy shots in round three.
The Thai star kept his foot on the gas to narrowly edge past the Italian-Canadian via unanimous decision – though it’s almost certain they’ll run it back in the future.
Nabil Anane Vs. Kulabdam
Twenty-year-old phenom Nabil Anane moved up to the bantamweight Muay Thai division to face Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai – one of its heaviest hitters – but he wasn’t fazed.
The rangy Thai-Algerian ate some huge shots from “Left Meteorite” in round one of their bout at ONE Friday Fights 69 on July 5, but he absorbed them well, showing that he could handle the power difference.
He then flipped the script in round two, deciding to go on the front foot to push Kulabdam back to the ropes, where he dropped the veteran with a barrage of knees.
Kulabdam got back up, but Anane made sure it wasn’t for long as he maintained his pressure with furious knee attacks from the clinch to score the KO.
Ellis Badr Barboza Vs. Aliff
The 125.75-pound catchweight Muay Thai clash between “El Jefe” Ellis Badr Barboza and Aliff Sor Dechapan was one of the highlights of ONE Fight Night 23 on July 5.
The two set a high pace from the outset, but it was Aliff who had the edge in round one, utilizing his longer frame to score heavy damage on his rival.
“El Jefe” came out with a vengeance in round two and dropped the Malaysian-Thai with a left hook, which was the crucial moment for the judges after nine intense minutes.
