3 Matchups That Could Steal The Show At ONE Friday Fights 34: Rodtang vs. Superlek
Headlined by the biggest Muay Thai clash in recent memory, ONE Friday Fights 34: Rodtang vs. Superlek is sure to draw massive attention from fans around the world when it airs in Asia primetime on September 22.
However, the incredible action isn’t confined to the main event.
The stacked 11-bout card at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium offers no shortage of high-stakes contests designed to produce fireworks.
Before the fisticuffs get underway this Friday, we look at three intriguing contests that could steal the show in Bangkok, Thailand.
#1 Adrian Mattheis Vs. Lito Adiwang
The card will kick off with an explosive strawweight MMA clash between two of the division’s most talented finishers, as Adrian “Papua Badboy” Mattheis takes on Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang.
A veteran of 15 fights in ONE, Mattheis hopes to find consistency, live up to his championship-level potential, and prove that his 2022 knockout victory over former strawweight MMA kingpin Alex Silva was no fluke.
The Indonesian veteran will also look to bolster his impressive highlight reel, which already includes eight stoppage wins in ONE – good for an 89 percent finishing rate.
“Thunder Kid,” meanwhile, is on a mission to regain his spot in the top-five rankings. The 30-year-old knockout artist took the division by storm to begin his ONE tenure, reeling off five straight victories.
But Adiwang will enter this bout on a two-fight losing streak after suffering defeats against now-ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks and perennial tough out Jeremy Miado.
Both men are fighting with something to prove, which means this opening clash has all the makings of an unforgettable war.
#2 Prajanchai Vs. Akram Hamidi
Later on the card, current ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai will put on the 8-ounce gloves to battle Algerian phenom Akram Hamidi in a strawweight kickboxing matchup.
Firmly established as one of the most experienced and accomplished fighters in the history of Muay Thai, Prajanchai is fresh off a spectacular second-round knockout of fellow Thai icon Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.
His absurd durability and forward-marching style have endeared him to fans across the globe, but his pure punching and kicking skills will be put to the test against a truly elite kickboxer in Hamidi.
Known as “La Pépite,” the 24-year-old is a three-time ISKA Kickboxing World Champion. That pedigree was on full display in his promotional debut in June at ONE Friday Fights 22 when Hamidi knocked out Thai star Jomhod Auto MuayThai.
The Algerian will now face his toughest assignment yet as he aims to take out another local hero and quickly assert himself as a legitimate contender for ONE’s strawweight kickboxing throne.
#3 Kulabdam Vs. Tyson Harrison
After that, all-action brawlers “Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai and Tyson “John Wayne Noi” Harrison will throw down in a bantamweight Muay Thai contest that has fans salivating.
A former two-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion, the man known as “Left Meteorite” is an explosive yet technically sound striker. He’s happy to exchange elbows in close range, trade heavy leather in the pocket, or blast his thunderous kicks from the outside.
On Friday, he hopes to score another memorable victory against a fast-rising star in Harrison.
The Australian, though, has proven to be one of the toughest, most entertaining athletes on the ONE roster.
Through his four barnburner appearances in the ONE Friday Fights event series, “John Wayne Noi” has battled tooth and nail against some of Thailand’s finest, earning admiration from the local crowds and from legends of the sport.
In short, fans can prepare for white-knuckle action from start to finish in this highly anticipated showdown.
