Sitthichai Vs. Shadow: 4 Keys To Victory In Muay Thai Showdown At ONE Friday Fights 92
On December 20 at ONE Friday Fights 92, the historic Lumpinee Stadium will play host to a pivotal featherweight Muay Thai matchup between decorated veteran Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong and surging phenom Shadow Singha Mawynn.
That clash will air live in Asia primetime and has fans of world-class striking anxious with anticipation.
For #3-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender Sitthichai, this will be an opportunity to prove he’s deserving of a crack at the gold.
Shadow, meanwhile, hopes to pick up the biggest win of his career, propel himself into the top five, and earn a six-figure contract with ONE’s global roster.
Before these Thai fan favorites go toe-to-toe in Bangkok, we look at each of their biggest keys to victory.
#1 Sitthichai’s Venomous Left Hand
As one of the planet’s most formidable southpaw strikers, it’s no surprise that Sitthichai’s best weapon is his concussive straight left hand.
The 33-year-old’s thunderous left punch is particularly dangerous not only because he packs big power in it, but also because he’s a master at setting it up, often working behind feints, crafty footwork, and a piercing lead right hook.
Against an orthodox fighter like Shadow, the straight left hand should remain the centerpiece of “Killer Kid’s” game. Look for him to spend the first few minutes of the bout gathering information before he unloads his trademark punch with bad intentions.
#2 Shadow’s Terrifying Kicks
The Singha Mawynn athlete is one of the featherweight Muay Thai division’s most devastating kickers – a skill set he will undoubtedly lean on against his legendary opponent.
The vast majority of Shadow’s kicks are thrown to the body, and he doesn’t care if they land clean on the ribs or crash into his foe’s forearms. Either way, they do plenty of damage.
Because Sitthichai fights out of the southpaw stance, he will be susceptible to show-stopping kicks coming from Shadow’s right side.
With that in mind, the 24-year-old prodigy should fire away with right kicks to the legs, body, and head early and often in this contest as he looks to rack up points and slow down his opponent’s attacks.
#3 Sitthchai’s Combination Striking
Against a smooth technician and master counter-striker like Shadow, Sitthichai can’t afford to just throw one shot at a time. Instead, he must string together his strikes in combinations.
Even though he packs true one-punch knockout power in his left hand, the eight-time Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion does his best work when he throws punches in bunches, often leading with a hook to the body or a double-jab before unleashing his straight left.
What’s more, Sitthichai’s combination striking could force the kick-heavy Shadow out of his game and put him on his back foot, never allowing him the space or time to throw his best weapons.
#4 Shadow’s Dangerous Clinch Game
While Shadow typically prefers to work at long range, he is perhaps just as dangerous when he’s hammering away with knees from inside the clinch.
Always cool, calm, and collected, he loves to control his opponent’s upper body before unleashing vicious, soul-stealing knee strikes to the body.
Fans have seen just a few glimpses of Shadow’s ferocious clinch game in ONE, and they might see more of it against the forward-marching Sitthichai. Look for him to intercept his foe’s forward pressure by entering the clinch, where he can showcase his underrated close-range weapons.
