We’re just days away from the first all-Muay Thai event ever witnessed in ONE Championship.
Airing live in U.S. primetime this Friday, December 8, the historic ONE Fight Night 17: Kryklia vs. Roberts on Prime Video card will showcase “the art of eight limbs” to the global fan base from start to finish.
The lineup is topped by a massive inaugural ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Title showdown between Roman Kryklia and Alex “The Viking” Roberts – but it also features everything from iconic knockout artists to rising stars.
Here are three bouts that could steal the show when the action gets underway at the famed Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
#1 Luke Lessei Vs. Jo Nattawut
A young phenom will meet a grizzled veteran in an intriguing featherweight Muay Thai contest.
Luke “The Chef” Lessei’s 6-0 slate is dwarfed by “Smokin” Jo Nattawut’s 71-11 record, but the unbeaten American has a strong amateur pedigree and a lifetime of martial arts experience.
Raised in the gym by his professional fighter dad, “The Chef” competed in more than 50 Muay Thai bouts before taking the professional ranks by storm in 2021. The 27-year-old has since knocked out five of his six opponents, using his relentless pressure and slick technique to break down rivals.
However, this is a big step up for Lessei, as “Smokin” Jo is on a different level from his past foes.
The 34-year-old Nattawut has battled the best of the best in Muay Thai and kickboxing for many years, notching up five wins in ONE, including three knockouts. The laidback Thai star never appears fazed, and he’s seen enough inside the ring to keep his composure in the face of “The Chef’s” offense.
Lessei will come out firing as he looks to make a big first impression, but if #4-ranked Nattawut can weather the storm, he has the knowledge and skill to teach his younger foe a lesson.
#2 Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat Vs. Denis Puric
The stylistic clash between “No.1” Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat and Denis “The Bosnian Menace” Puric could definitely make their flyweight Muay Thai encounter a standout encounter this Friday.
Duy Nhat is making his long-awaited return to ONE with a slick kicking style, preferring to unleash his longer-range weapons from the outside while moving and looking for openings for his trademark high kick.
Conversely, Puric is an aggressive and hard-headed slugger who will try to walk his man down and draw him into a toe-to-toe battle, taking aim at both the chin and midsection.
“The Bosnian Menace” has promised to back Duy Nhat into the ropes and beat him up with furious salvos of punches, which sounds like a good plan if the direction of traffic is one-way. However, “No.1” isn’t afraid to trade in the pocket if necessary.
If Puric thinks he can charge in with impunity, he’ll be sure to meet the harsh reality of Duy Nhat’s concussive power, so both men must be aware of their defense while trying to control the distance and tempo of this fascinating matchup.
#3 Thongpoon PK Saenchai Vs. Ellis Badr Barboza
Two men will be making their ONE Fight Night debuts in a 120-pound catchweight Muay Thai clash that has all the makings of a classic.
Thongpoon PK Saenchai wowed fans with three straight victories in the ONE Friday Fights event series, while Ellis “El Jefe” Badr Barboza recently won the WBC International Muay Thai Title to show he was ready for the step up.
Thongpoon’s first two wins were maximum destruction in minimum time, knocking out his opponents in a combined 44 seconds. He then won his six-figure contract with ONE in an epic back-and-forth war with Yangdam Jitmuangnon, proving he also has the heart for drawn-out battles.
In Barboza, he’ll face a man who is ready for any scenario. “El Jefe” is willing to fight fire with fire, but he is renowned for his conditioning and ability to mix things up.
Thongpoon has had some issues with his fitness in the past, and if Barboza can keep up a high work rate, he could open up a route to victory against the Thai slugger. But with the PK Saenchai man’s power, it only takes one mistake to signal the end, so fans won’t want to miss a second.
