Kongthoranee Impresses Against Kabutov, Ramazanov Returns To Form at ONE Friday Fights 31
The world’s largest martial arts organization kicked September off with 11 stellar MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai battles inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
ONE Friday Fights 31 delivered from top to bottom when it went down live in Asia primetime, leaving fans in attendance and those watching around the world begging for more by the end.
In case you missed anything, here’s a recap of all the action at the historic striking venue in Bangkok, Thailand.
Kongthoranee Triumphs Over Kabutov in Tense Three-Rounder
Kongthoranee Sor Sommai capped off ONE Friday Fights 31 with a commanding display against Sherzod Kabutov in their flyweight Muay Thai contest.
Both men exhibited prowess from the start of the action, trading calculated blows marked with speed and accuracy.
Kabutov landed a spinning back kick early on, which two-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kongthoranee responded to with a sharp left cross.
As the battle progressed, the Thai star unleashed a barrage of powerful high kicks behind unstoppable forward pressure. But Kabutov stood his ground and countered effectively.
The turning point came in the third and final frame. As “Lion” attempted a clinch, Kongthoranee fought back and landed a series of clean left elbows.
That proved decisive, as the judges unanimously recognized Kongthoranee’s aggression at the end and handed him his third consecutive win in ONE Friday Fights, boosting his overall striking record to 64-15.
Chorfah Lands Highlight-Reel Knockout On Mongkolkaew
Chorfah Tor Sangtiennoi scored a picture-perfect finish in his 132-pound catchweight Muay Thai battle with Mongkolkaew Sor Sommai.
The Sor Sommai standout won the majority of the exchanges in the opening round, but Chorfah stormed back in spectacular fashion when the second frame got underway.
A flush left hook sent Mongkolkaew to the canvas right away. And seconds later, the same strike dropped laid him out again, securing the devastating knockout win for Chorfah just 31 seconds into the round.
The Thai sensation moved to 102-45 in his career as a result.
Sibsan Stuns With Second-Round KO Of Baramee
Sibsan Nokkhao KorMor11 finally scored the finish he’d been looking for in ONE Friday Fights when he took out Baramee Sujeebameekiew in 138-pound catchweight Muay Thai action.
The action was fairly even from the start, as both men attacked with punches and low kicks. But everything changed in the second round.
The two Thai stars locked horns in the clinch, but Sibsan soon pushed away. In doing so, he created enough space to land a stinging right elbow that sent Baramee to the canvas just 30 seconds into the frame.
The battle was waved off, and the Nokkhao Kor Mor 11 representative moved to 3-0 in ONE and 63-18 overall.
Puengluang Shines In Three-Round War With Seksan
In a pulse-racing flyweight Muay Thai bout, Puengluang Baanramba emerged victorious over Seksan Fairtex to mark his third consecutive win in ONE Championship.
The atmosphere was electric inside Lumpinee Stadium as both Thai phenoms exchanged relentless flurries of punches, kicks, and knees right from the start.
Puengluang shined in the clinch and consistently landed crosses and high kicks, but Seksan showcased his grit by countering with precise strikes of his own time and again.
The climax to the action came in the third round, as Puengluang ramped up his assault and shot in with incisive elbows and devastating knees. Even amidst that storm, though, Seksan found moments to land powerful hook counters.
When the dust had settled, the judges unanimously favored Puengluang, and the win enhanced the 23-year-old’s record to 61-5.
Sornsueknoi’s Leg Kicks Crumble Udomlek Early On
Thai star Sornsueknoi FA Group scored a brutal leg kick finish in his 128-pound catchweight Muay Thai battle against compatriot Udomlek Nupranburi.
The 28-year-old confidently marched forward as soon as the bell rang in his ONE debut, and he peppered Udomlek with jabs to set up thudding leg kicks.
Those strikes quickly added up, and after just over two minutes of action, the Nupranburi representative crumbled to the canvas, writhing in pain.
Sornsueknoi earned the KO win as a result, and he announced himself as a serious threat in ONE’s loaded Muay Thai ranks.
Tonglampoon Impresses On Debut Against Fiery Apidet
The little guys showed big hearts halfway through Friday night’s card, but in the end, it was Tonglampoon Maimornforest who took home a debut victory over Apidet Namduemmee77 in their 117-pound catchweight Muay Thai clash.
Apidet came out swinging hard and fast as he hunted for an early KO, but Tonglampoon bit down on his mouthpiece and marched into the fray.
Over the final two rounds, the 19-year-old phenom swung wildly accurate punches at his Thai compatriot, which wowed the judges and put him ahead on the scorecards.
Tonglampoon was handed the unanimous decision win in the end, and it pushed the FA Group standout’s professional Muay Thai record to 40-11.
Ramazanov Elbows His Way Back To Winning Ways Against Sara
Alaverdi Ramazanov dispatched Alessandro Sara in under 100 seconds, thanks to a ferocious elbow strike in their bantamweight Muay Thai showdown.
The former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion initiated the action with his iconic teep and seamlessly switched stances to diversify his assault. His Italian foe countered with a right kick then attempted a hook, but the agile Russian dodged it swiftly.
Capitalizing on the brief gap, Ramazanov masterfully delivered a crushing right elbow that floored “The Italian Ferrari” and led the referee to halt the bout at 1:39 of the opening round.
The KO win was welcomed warmly by “Babyface Killer,” who returned to form after a two-fight skid and pushed his striking tally to 64-9.
Big Power Carries Cecchetti To Victory Over Huo
In strawweight kickboxing action, Italian standout Luca Cecchetti and Chinese star Huo Xiaolong went toe to toe for three high-paced rounds, but it was the former who won out in the end.
While Huo seemed to hold the speed advantage in his punches and kicks, it was Cecchetti’s thunderous punching power that made the difference.
The 32-year-old scored an early knockdown with a short left hand, and he continued to push the pace by marching forward behind massive hooks.
Both men battled right to the end, but Cecchetti’s aggression earned him the unanimous decision victory, and the debut win improved his record to an impressive 44-5 overall.
Daz Bags Win In Epic Muay Thai Encounter With Nonthakit
Aussie striking star River Daz picked up his first victory in ONE against tough-as-nails Nonthakit Tor Morsri in their bantamweight Muay Thai banger.
The 30-year-old star dropped his Thai opponent with a piston of a right cross in the first round – and from that moment on, complete pandemonium broke out.
Both men stood chin to chin and refused to pump the breaks, and elbows, punches, kicks, and knees came in bunches at a furious rate right to the end.
When the final bell rang, Daz was awarded the nod from all three judges for his impressive rally, though he had to endure some gruesome damage to his eyes to get there.
The impressive victory improved the Hammer’s Gym/ Fairtex Training Center athlete’s all-striking record to 33-1.
Nongam Goes 3-0 With Hard-Fought Victory Over Vera
Nongam Fairtex solidified her ONE Championship winning streak by securing a third consecutive victory against Francisca Vera in their 112-pound catchweight Muay Thai contest.
From the outset, the Thai standout marked her territory with potent right kicks. “Miss Scarface” didn’t falter, however, and she used her reach advantage to deliver sharp one-two combinations throughout the bout.
The action peaked in the third round, as the pair traded aggressive strikes and elbows at close quarters. Vera connected with a significant one-two attack that rocked her foe, but Nongam displayed undeniable resilience as she battled on to the final bell.
Ultimately, the Fairtex Training Center standout was awarded the majority decision win for her aggression, and it elevated her striking record to 46-5.
Akylbek Uulu Overwhelms Gasanguseinov To Earn Decision Win
Elite grappling was on full display as Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu dominated Gadzhimurad Gasanguseinov en route to a unanimous decision win in their 139-pound catchweight mixed martial arts bout.
After an opening round filled with scrambles, the teen phenom spent the remaining two frames firmly in the driver’s seat, scoring with explosive takedowns and suffocating his foe with crushing top control while mixing in punishing ground strikes.
Though the Kyrgyz star couldn’t find the finish, the judges’ decision was all but a formality in the end. Akylbek Uulu pushed his career record to 8-1 and made a statement in his ONE debut with the win.
