Bangpleenoi Digs Deep To Outscore Liam Nolan In Three-Round Battle
Bangpleenoi Petchyindee Academy and Liam Nolan had the crowd inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand at fever pitch as they went toe-to-toe for three rounds of Muay Thai action.
Despite the heavy shots they exchanged, their 72-kilogram catch weight contest went all the way to the judges’ scorecards at ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD on Friday, 16 August, and hometown hero Bangpleenoi got the edge to win via majority decision.
Nolan started well and used his boxing to good effect in the opening round. The British striker also punctuated his combinations with low kicks, and used his long legs to keep the Thai at bay.
The Knowlesy Academy representative worked sharp elbows into his offense as his rival tried to come to terms with his height advantage. Bangpleenoi replied with low kicks and lead hooks, but he was sent to the canvas when the Englishman threw a left elbow, though the referee ruled that he had slipped.
Nolan came out firing with his hands again in round two, but the Petchyindee Academy athlete’s low kick counters found a home more often. Both men also took aim with elbows before the Thai connected with a crunching right hook to the body.
Bangpleenoi grew in confidence and found his rhythm as the round wore on, and used his lead hook and uppercut to set up a heavy left low kick. He also had success when he caught Nolan’s kicks and landed counter strikes.
With everything to play for in the final frame, both men attacked with lead kicks to the body. A jumping switch kick by Nolan landed on his foe’s jaw, but Bangpleenoi shook it off and returned fire with hooks and low kicks to the lead thigh.
The Bangkok fans showed their appreciation as both men embraced a style true to “the art of eight limbs” and exchanged body kicks in the center of the Circle as the match came to a close.
After the final bell, two of the three judges scored the contest in favor of Bangpleenoi, while the third official saw the match as a tie, which resulted in a majority decision for the hometown hero.
The victory extended his record to 122-50-10, and the two-division WMC Muay Thai World Champion is now 2-0 in ONE Super Series.
