Two of the best modern-day strikers are running it back for the chance to wear gold once again.
Living legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao looks to continue his comeback story at ONE Friday Fights 22 on June 23, as he’ll rematch former divisional kingpin and Thai compatriot Prajanchai PK Saenchai for the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title in the co-main event.
Reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Joseph “The Hurricane” Lasiri is unable to defend his belt that evening at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, due to injury.
The Rivalry Between Sam-A & Prajanchai
Sam-A has already cemented his place in ONE Championship history.
Known to have the fastest left kicks in the game, the 39-year-old veteran is the only person to ever claim ONE World Title gold across two divisions and two different sports.
He first knocked out Sergio Wielzen in spectacular fashion to claim the inaugural ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title in May 2018.
After losing it a year later, Sam-A moved down to his natural weight class – strawweight – where he captured the division’s inaugural kickboxing strap in December 2019 and then the inaugural Muay Thai belt in February 2020.
But Sam-A’s extraordinary run came to a screeching halt in July 2021, as Thai phenom Prajanchai lived up to all the hype that had followed him for months.
The 28-year-old Bangkok slugger knocked down his iconic countryman and went on to take the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title via majority decision.
Soon after, Sam-A vacated the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title and effectively retired.
The Roads To Redemption For Sam-A & Prajanchai
A lot would change for both men over the next year.
After seeing his brother-in-law, reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9, complete his rise to the top, Sam-A got the itch to compete again. He fought twice locally in Thailand, winning both battles, and then rejoined the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Meanwhile, Prajanchai made his first ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title defense against Italian underdog Lasiri in May 2022, and despite being a heavy favorite, the Thai was forced to quit on the stool and surrender his belt.
Since then, both men have been on roads to redemption – and those roads have run through ONE Friday Fights.
Prajanchai decimated Kompetch Sitsarawatsuer at ONE Friday Fights 1 this past January, and Sam-A returned to form with a brilliant knockout of Ryan Sheehan at ONE Friday Fights 9 in March, separating themselves as the top strikers in the bustling division.
Now, the duo will run it back for the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship on June 23, and the victor will undoubtedly face Lasiri later this year to unify the belts.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE Friday Fights 22, which is headlined by the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title unification match between Arjan Bhullar and Anatoly Malykhin.
