Yodpanomrung’s Lightning Knee Crumples Tyler Hardcastle In Jakarta

Yodpanomrung “The Lightning Knee” Jitmuangnon lived up to his moniker with a stunning highlight-reel finish against Tyler Hardcastle at ONE: FOR HONOR in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday, 3 May.

The six-time Muay Thai World Champion landed a crunching knee to the Australian’s body, which put an end to the ONE Super Series Muay Thai bantamweight contest late in the third round.

Hardcastle, who trains out of Riddler’s Gym in Perth, Australia, started well and used his long reach to land straight punches.

The 22-year-old’s jab found the mark, and he managed to briefly keep his advancing opponent out of range.

Yodpanomrung retaliated with kicks, and he also used his forward pressure to close the distance and land knees.

However, the Aussie sent his Thai rival back with a strong push kick near the end of the opening frame, and started cutting angles off the back of his jab.

Yodpanomrung realized that chasing the match from the outside was not having the desired effect, and in the second round, the Jitmuangnon Gym representative employed his renowned clinch attack.

He dumped Hardcastle to the canvas on several occasions and looked comfortable in close-range battle.

The Australian took aim with his jab-cross combination and found the mark sporadically, but he could not keep Yodpanomrung from tying him up. In fact, the Thai added to his points tally with his clinch-control, hard knees, and short punches on the inside.

The 25-year-old Bangkok native’s confidence continued to grow throughout the contest, and it culminated in the final round. He walked Hardcastle down, and landed elbows and knees at every opportunity. 

With his rival backed up against the ropes, Yodpanomrung saw his chance to end the bantamweight affair.

He went high with a jab and then stepped through with a devastating right knee to the body, which instantly crumpled Hardcastle to the canvas.

The Australian could not answer the referee’s count, which gave “The Lightning Knee” the victory and pushed his record to 232-69-2.