For those unfamiliar with Tawanchai PK.Saenchai’s path to becoming a ONE World Champion, consider this an introduction to Friday’s ONE Fight Night 7 event.
ONE Championship has uploaded a nearly 10-minute highlight video of each of ONE’s world muay thai featherweight champion fights in the promotion, leading up to his capture of the belt last September.
Take a look to see what his opponent Jamal Yusupov is up against this weekend:
The young Muay Thai prodigy made his ONE Championship debut against Sean Clancy in 2021, when he was just 21 years old. Clancy was clearly outmatched when his Thai opponent pummeled him bloody over two rounds.
By the time round three began, Tawanchai had gathered enough reads on Clancy that he was able to land the killshot via head kick 35 seconds into round three.
Once again he displayed his elegant but stabbing attack against Niclas Larsen and Saemapetch Fairtex, whom he finished off with a straight left hand. The two wins established his first winning streak at ONE Championship and gave Tawanchai a shot at Petchmorakot Petchyindee’s world featherweight championship.
He would make the most of the shot with a stunning but grueling five-round effort against Petchmorakot that awarded him the ONE world championship in Muay Thai.
Tawanchai will be looking to add to his growing highlight reel in just a few days as he defends his world title against Russia’s Jamal Yusupov in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 7.
Competing at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is an experience of nostalgia for Tawanchai
Sometimes the setting of the fight matters almost as much as the fight itself.
Like boxing at Madison Square Garden, many young Muay Thai fighters dream of competing in arenas like Bangkok’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. Tawanchai PK.Saenchai is checking off that part of his wish list this Friday in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 7.
The world champion spoke to ONE Championship about what it means to him to fight in the historic arena, as he looks to add his name to the ledger of history:
“It’s the nostalgic feeling. Lumpinee is the most respected stadium, which has hosted the best Muay Thai fighters. There are so many who become famous after fighting in this stadium.”
Tawanchai is well on his way to becoming another hero honored by the Lumpinee walls. And, at just 23, he’s likely to be the first of many appearances.
Opposite him is Russian Jamal Yusupov, who is undefeated at the ONE Championship and is coming off a win over ‘Smokin’ Jo Nattawut last July.
The fight is the main event of the seventh consecutive ONE Championship event at the venue. ONE Fight Night 7 drops on February 24 and streams in US Prime Time for Amazon Prime subscribers in North America.