The 5 Biggest Takeaways From ONE Friday Fights 92: Sitthichai Vs. Shadow
ONE Friday Fights 92: Sitthichai vs. Shadow provided a fitting conclusion to a memorable year in ONE Championship.
The 12-bout Muay Thai and kickboxing card was simply electric. Not only did a plethora of superstars find their grooves once again, but some talented phenoms displayed their immense potential on the global stage this past Friday, December 20.
With the last show of 2024 officially in the books, we reflect on five big takeaways from ONE Friday Fights 92 at the world-famous Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Shadow Is A True Star On The Rise
Many athletes made a statement at ONE Friday Fights 92, but Shadow Singha Mawynn might have been the loudest.
In the main event, the 24-year-old sensation defeated eight-time Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong via unanimous decision to solidify himself as a serious player in the featherweight Muay Thai division.
The Thai strikers engaged in a methodical duel, but Shadow was quicker and more forceful with his offense. He battered his rival’s left arm with heavy right kicks, affecting Sitthichai’s ability to let rip with his signature left hand.
Though Sitthichai was game throughout the battle, the young upstart controlled the range better and attacked with hooks and straight punches whenever his opponent’s guard dropped. Shadow then sealed the deal by knocking down “Killer Kid” with a devastating right cross late in the third round.
The unanimous decision was Shadow’s biggest victory to date. He took out the #3-ranked featherweight Muay Thai and kickboxing contender and has now won four straight appearances at ONE Friday Fights.
Songchainoi Is Fireworks Every Time
Since the earliest days of ONE Friday Fights in January 2023, Songchainoi Kiatsongrit has delivered the goods every time he steps into the Lumpinee Stadium ring.
The Thai knockout artist has been unstoppable during his promotional tenure, defeating all eight of his opponents at the weekly Asia primetime event series. His latest victim was Yodnumchai Fairtex, who was scorched in the second round of their matchup.
Songchainoi launched a bevy of uppercuts before Yodnumchai decided to trade blows. During the exchange, the 24-year-old wound up and cracked his compatriot with a wild right, which ultimately ended Yodnumchai’s night.
The fiery performance earned Songchainoi yet another bonus and gave fans one more reason to watch ONE Friday Fights whenever he competes.
Grigorian And Meksen Bounce Back With Elite Showings
Two of the greatest pound-for-pound kickboxers in history returned to the winner’s circle with vintage performances last Friday.
Eight months after falling to Superbon in their ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title fight, #2-ranked Marat Grigorian bounced back by knocking out Morocco’s Abdelali “Black Diamond” Zahidi.
The 33-year-old Armenian overwhelmed Zahidi with his trademark punches in the first stanza, and the punishment continued in the second frame. He dropped the young Moroccan with an overhand right for the first knockdown and then finished him with a straight left to earn his 68th career win.
Meanwhile, Anissa “C18” Meksen snapped the first two-bout skid of her incredible decades-long career.
The French-Algerian legend, who was fighting six weeks after failing to claim the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title, spoiled the highly anticipated debut of four-time K-1 Champion Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto, lighting her up with razor-sharp boxing combinations and snappy kicks to secure her 104th victory.
Both veterans proved they are still elite and can still contend for ONE World Titles – and their victories brought them closer to those goals.
Bikrev Will Be A Problem For Flyweights Strikers Everywhere
Undefeated Russian knockout artist Egor Bikrev shocked the world.
Just six weeks after finishing Gingsanglek Wor Kumchamnarn in his promotional debut, the 22-year-old stopped seven-time Muay Thai World Champion and former top-five flyweight Muay Thai contender “The Angel Warrior” Panpayak Jitmuangnon.
Bikrev fearlessly stood toe-to-toe with the Thai favorite in the opening stanza, absorbing dangerous kicks and then returning fire. The Russian then stunned fans – and his veteran rival – when he blocked a body kick and floored Panpayak with a right cross.
In the second round, Bikrev threw a right body kick and landed a glancing right hook. From there, he ate a leg kick and bounced forward with a powerful left hook to hand “The Angel Warrior” his first knockout loss in five years.
Bikrev, who moved his pro record to 8-0-1, is the only person to finish Panpayak in ONE Championship, and if he continues down this path, he will become a nightmare for the entire flyweight Muay Thai division.
Liu Can Hang With The Featherweight Kickboxing Division’s Best
Another star was born on Friday evening.
Little was known about “Spirit Dragon” Liu Mengyang before ONE Friday Fights 92, but the 21-year-old Chinese kickboxer made the most of his promotional debut and proved that he belongs on the global stage.
Many expected former two-division K-1 Champion Masaaki Noiri to steamroll through the youngster, but Liu surprised the Japanese stud with his high-volume output and furious attacks.
Liu unloaded punches in bunches, eventually dropping his superstar foe with a looping right in the opening frame. Though Noiri turned up the heat, the 6-foot Chinese tower stayed in the kitchen and showcased his mettle by going toe-to-toe for the rest of the match, ultimately earning a unanimous decision.
Now that the world has seen what Liu is capable of, it will be interesting to see how future opponents adjust moving forward. But one thing is for sure – the youngster can hang with the featherweight kickboxing division’s best.
