Saemapetch Fairtex Is Going All-Out For The Knockout Against Ognjen Topic

Saemapetch Fairtex wants a stoppage victory when he returns to action at ONE: ROOTS OF HONOR.

The MTGP Welterweight World Champion will attempt to maintain his undefeated streak in ONE Championship in style when he takes on Serbian-American Ognjen Topic next Friday, 12 April.

Armed with some new weapons for the ONE Super Series bantamweight Muay Thai clash at The Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, he believes he can deliver his most explosive performance yet.

Saemapetch was last seen in ONE in November at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS when he earned the 119th win of his professional career thanks to a unanimous decision at the end of a close, action-packed encounter against Russia’s Alaverdi “Dagger” Ramazanov.

The match brought the capacity crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena to its feet as the world-class athletes went to battle from the opening bell to the final seconds, and the Chiang Mai native was delighted with the result.

“It was a great fight, I felt I performed well,” Saemapetch says.

“He was really fast and unorthodox. His style is so different than the Thai style I’m used to competing against. It was definitely a hard-earned victory.”

The 24-year-old will once again have to face a dangerous opponent when he squares off against Lion Fight World Champion Topic.

The 33-year-old makes regular pilgrimages to Thailand to train, and he has spent several months in Bangkok sharpening his skills with some of Thailand’s most elite athletes at P.K.Saenchaimuaythaigym in central Bangkok to get ready for ONE: ROOTS OF HONOR.

The man from Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, is known for his technical style and incredible conditioning, but that will be put to the test against the raw power of Saemapetch, which he has combined with pressure and precision to shine in his first two ONE Super Series match-ups.

It sounds like the Fairtex Gym representative is prepared to bring the same kind of heat to the Mall Of Asia Arena.

“I really want to stay undefeated with ONE Championship,” he reveals.

“I’ve studied my opponent and have figured out a plan to beat him.

“I plan to test his power first, and then use my counter skills while keeping up the pressure and being aggressive.”

“I’ll be using my striking skills to pick hard, heavy shots. If there is an opportunity for a KO finish, I’ll definitely take it. I want to get a KO victory with ONE Championship.”

Saemapetch sees Topic as a formidable opponent, and recognizes his path to victory will not be easy, but he is confident he can put his plan into action and have his hand raised in Manila.

“He’s a hardened competitor and a good striker who is very well versed in Muay Thai, but I feel my experience will be my greatest asset going into this fight.”

Another thing he believes that will work in his favor is the use of 4-ounce mixed martial arts gloves.

Saemapetch will test the waters with this equipment for the first time in The Mall Of Asia Arena after more than a decade of using larger gloves in the ring.

He has made every effort to familiarize himself with this new dynamic, and after weeks of use during practice sessions, he believes these smaller tools will help him to bring an incendiary conclusion to the contest.

“In preparation for the fight, I’m using the small gloves to hit pads every day,” he explains.

“I think they are comfortable for training, but it is going to be a lot different in the fight – knockouts and knockdowns are more common.”