‘It’s My Identity’ – Inked Warrior Kongthoranee Shares His Tattoo Journey
Top-five ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Kongthoranee Sor Sommai‘s tattoos reflect both his passion for Muay Thai and his aesthetic inclinations.
The 28-year-old rising star is set to rematch former long-reigning ONE World Champion Nong-O Hama on May 2 in U.S. primetime at ONE Fight Night 31 on Prime Video.
Before that hotly anticipated flyweight Muay Thai clash at Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium, Kongthoranee spoke to onefc.com about the art he proudly displays on his body.
His love of tattoos, he said, began more than a decade ago:
“I got my first tattoo when I was around 16 or 17 years old. Like a teenager, I thought that it would make me look bad***.”
A veteran of nearly 100 professional fights, he likely no longer needs tattoos to make himself look intimidating.
Kongthoranee’s first piece of ink was a traditional koi fish on his leg, chosen for the simple reason that he thought it looked cool.
From there, his passion for tattoos grew and grew, eventually leading to the distinctive look that’s become part of his persona when competing under ONE’s bright lights:
“It’s my identity. I think people remember me partly because of my tattoos.”
Some of the Sor Sommai fighter’s tattoos carry a deep symbolic or personal meaning, but at the beginning, he was focused purely on looks.
His imposing dragon chest piece, which makes him immediately recognizable, was chosen for its incredible visual impact:
“On my chest is a dragon tattoo. The reason I got it was because I thought the design was cool. I didn’t think about any meaning. I just wanted it to be cool.”
A Tribute To A Mentor
While he loves the aesthetic element of his tattoos, not all of Kongthoranee’s ink was put there solely for that purpose.
He has one tattoo in particular that holds special meaning – a portrait of the Sor Sommai gym owner.
“[My favorite is] the tattoo of my big boss, Sommai Sakulmetta. I got it in 2024.”
Kongthoranee chose the tattoo because Sakulmetta has been instrumental throughout his decorated career, and especially over the past couple of years while he’s rapidly risen through the ranks in ONE Championship, amassing an impressive 13-2 record in the organization.
The tattoo, he added, is a fitting tribute to the man who’s not only played a pivotal role in his fighting career but has also been a true personal mentor:
“The reason I like it the most is because he is the person who has done me the most favor. He takes care of me and helps me in everything. He is like another father to me.”
