Nong-O Gaiyanghadao Beats Mehdi Zatout, Eyes ONE World Title Gold
The legend of Nong-O Gaiyanghadao continues to grow.
On Saturday, 6 October, he made his second appearance in ONE Super Series in front of a home crowd at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, and he did not disappoint his countrymen.
The four-time Lumpinee Stadium World Champion delivered another spectacular display, as he defeated Mehdi “Diamond Heart” Zatout via unanimous decision in their Muay Thai bantamweight contest at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES.
Nong-O Gaiyanghadao put on a Muay Thai masterclass en route to a unanimous decision win over Mehdi Zatout!Watch the full event LIVE & FREE on the ONE Super App 👉 http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp | TV: Check local listings for global broadcast
Posted by ONE Championship on Saturday, October 6, 2018
In the first round, Zatout – an ISKA & WBC World Champion – showed Nong-O he would not be a pushover and promptly dumped the icon to the canvas twice.
However, it was the Thai’s strikes that made the most significant mark in the first three minutes, as a succession of thumping kicks to the head and body were the highlights of a strong opening frame for the 31-year-old superstar.
The Thailand-based Frenchman looked to push the pace at the beginning of the second round, but he was met by a powerful elbow from Nong-O, whose shot selection and accuracy kept him in the ascendancy throughout the bout.
Another massive elbow from the Evolve representative gave him the first knockdown of the contest, as “Diamond Heart” hit the canvas midway through the round.
Sensing victory within his grasp, Nong-O turned up the pressure. He scored with short elbows and repeated kicks to the head and body, as he calmly broke through Zatout’s defenses.
Despite the Thai’s striking dominance, Zatout’s heart and stubborn resilience saw him survive the round.
Nong-O continued his dominance in the third and final stanza, as a knee up the middle sent the French striker staggering backward across the ring. Still, Zatout refused to back down.
The Thai superstar continued to stalk his opponent, and he landed cleanly with punches, knees, and elbows. He showcased his full Muay Thai arsenal against a tough, durable adversary.
To his great credit, “Diamond Heart” made it all the way to the scorecards, but there was no doubt of the victor’s identity, as Nong-O recorded the 257th win of his highly decorated career.
Nong-O’s victory further cemented his status as one of the elite operators in Muay Thai and, after thanking the capacity crowd inside the Impact Arena, he stated his intention to compete for a ONE World Championship.
With performances like that, his time may come sooner rather than later.
