The Return Of A Destroyer: Reliving Kiamran Nabati’s Unbeaten ONE Championship Run Ahead Of The Inner Circle On May 22
In ONE’s stacked bantamweight Muay Thai division, few names inspire the kind of dread that Kiamran Nabati has forged one knockout at a time.
The undefeated Dagestani has built a flawless 23-0 record on relentless forward pressure, impeccable footwork, and a left hand that has crumpled opponents.
Up close, he is equally lethal. The Archangel Michel representative has proven a nightmare even for seasoned Thai veterans in the clinch, beating them at their own game in the trenches.
After a year on the sidelines, the heavy-handed Russian returns in the main event of The Inner Circle to face Lumpinee Stadium favorite Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri in a high-stakes bantamweight Muay Thai showdown. The blockbuster clash goes down exclusively on live.onefc.com in Asia primetime before ONE Friday Fights 155 on May 22.
Ahead of Friday, here is every performance that has shaped Nabati’s flawless run in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
A Thunderous Arrival
Kiamran Nabati did not arrive quietly. The Russian brought a notorious reputation and an 18-fight winning streak to his global stage debut at ONE Friday Fights 35 in September 2023, and the promotion wasted no time testing him.
His first assignment was Pongsiri PK Saenchai, a Thai veteran with over 200 career fights and four Muay Thai World Championships to his name.
Despite facing a seasoned warrior, Nabati showed no fear. He built a commanding lead with fluid combinations, solid footwork, and sharp counterattacks that kept his opponent off-balance.
Pongsiri turned up the heat in the final round, pushing the pace and forcing exchanges, but the Russian’s reflexes held firm. Accurate, elusive, and utterly composed, Nabati took the unanimous decision, sending a stern warning to the 145-pound striking ranks.
Momentum Builds
All eyes were on Nabati after his sparkling debut, and he wasted no time delivering on the promise.
At ONE Friday Fights 55 in March 2024, the Russian unleashed his full arsenal against Avatar PK Saenchai, a Thai striker riding four consecutive victories.
Nabati refused to give his opponent an inch of breathing room. He let his combinations flow freely, tagging Avatar with lightning-fast spinning kicks and heavy hooks that kept his foe in a constant state of retreat. When Avatar attempted to disrupt the rhythm and force uncomfortable exchanges, the 31-year-old picked up the pace and chopped away at the lead leg with clinical low kicks.
He never took his foot off the gas. In the final minute, Nabati turned the ring into a highlight reel, dropping Avatar twice with powerful right hands before cruising to another dominant unanimous decision.
A Life-Changing Knockout
Back-to-back victories brought Kiamran Nabati face-to-face with one of the division’s most feared finishers at ONE Friday Fights 68 in June 2024. Suablack Tor Pran49 was riding a six-fight winning streak built almost entirely on knockouts.
Nabati gave him a taste of his own medicine from the opening bell. He immediately put the aggressive Thai on the back foot, forcing him toward the ring ropes with relentless forward pressure and sharp combinations.
The Archangel Michel representative knew a heavy-handed counter was coming and waited. When Suablack committed on a left hook, the Dagestani star slipped cleanly and unloaded a devastating counter left punch flush on the chin, separating the Thai from his consciousness.
The devastating first-round finish earned Nabati a coveted US$100,000 contract and a place on ONE Championship’s global roster. His spot among the division’s upper echelon was no longer a question.
Conquering A Living Legend
A perfect 3-0 run earned the ONE Friday Fights contract winner the biggest opportunity of his life. With no easing-in period, Nabati stepped into ONE Friday Fights 81 in September 2024 against former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama.
The most dominant force the division has ever seen, Nong-O strung together 10 consecutive ONE victories at his peak, including seven successful World Title defenses that set a standard no other bantamweight has matched.
For a man who had never tasted defeat, facing a living legend was simply another challenge. Nabati wobbled the Thai icon with a sharp left jab in the final seconds of the opening round, then kept him on the back foot with expert footwork, spinning kicks, and relentless one-two counters.
The bout was close, hard-fought, and fiercely contested. But Nabati’s damage output and relentless volume told the story, and the unanimous decision stood as the biggest feather in his cap to date.
A Result Undone, A Comeback Ignited
Carrying all the confidence in the world after toppling Muay Thai royalty, Nabati brought a menacing swagger into his clash with Ferrari Fairtex at ONE Friday Fights 95 in January 2025.
What followed was one of the most beautiful sequences of his ONE Championship run. Ruthless and precise, Nabati caught a kick, countered with a right hook to the body, and followed instantly with a left cross to the chin that switched Ferrari’s lights off in the first round.
That victory, however, did not stand. A post-fight drug test returned a positive result, overturning the win to a no contest and triggering a one-year ban.
Nabati has since paid his dues. On Friday, May 22, the destroyer returns against fellow contract winner Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri with a massive chip on his shoulder and a point to prove. The most dangerous version of the Dagestani mauler may be yet to come.
