‘A Battle Of Tactical Execution’ – Dedduanglek And Kongsuk Dissect Their Rematch At ONE Friday Fights 167
Time changes fighters. Whether it changes the outcome is exactly what Thai stars Dedduanglek Torfunfarm and Kongsuk Sitsarawatsuer are about to find out.
They run it back in a pivotal bantamweight Muay Thai matchup, which headlines the highly anticipated ONE Friday Fights 167. The event broadcasts live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, August 21.
Their paths first crossed in the headline attraction of ONE Friday Fights 35 in September 2023, and the high-stakes battle lived up to every bit of the hype. Kongsuk — a two-time Lumpinee Stadium World Champion — found early success, but Dedduanglek finished strong to ensure his rival dropped a closely contested unanimous decision.
Nearly three years removed from that night, both men return as considerably different fighters, each bravely carrying his own version of unfinished business into the rematch.
Dedduanglek Vows To Put The Rivalry To Bed
Dedduanglek already has the blueprint that worked once before, and the TDed99 standout sees no reason it will not work again.
The 23-year-old striking sensation arrives on the back of four wins in his last five outings, most recently defeating Cyber Sor Tienpo at ONE Friday Fights 153 this past May.
Riding that remarkable momentum into their second clash, Dedduanglek is looking to expertly tip the scales, extend his streak, and close the book on this rivalry for good.
He said:
“I am 100 percent confident I will get the job done again so we won’t need a trilogy fight. Stacking a third straight win will boost my confidence immensely and allow me to look ahead to bigger opportunities, like fighting on major cards such as ONE SAMURAI.”
Even with that extraordinary confidence in tow, he is not walking into this crucial sequel expecting the same fighter he beat three years ago.
Dedduanglek knows better than anyone that time in this sport rarely stands still, and he credits his own journey since then for shaping the elite version of himself stepping in this time around.
The Thai continued:
“Since our first fight, I’ve gained a lot more experience on the big stage against top-tier opponents. I went through a rough patch with consecutive losses, but overcoming that made me much stronger.
“Kongsuk has gone through a lot as well. This rematch will feel like two completely new fighters facing off. Three years is a long time, and we’ve both continuously leveled up. This is going to be an exciting fight that fans won’t want to miss.”
Growth aside, Dedduanglek is not interested in reinventing the wheel when the technical tools that worked the first time are still very much intact.
If anything, three years of added experience have only sharpened the very weapon that decisively shifted the tide in their first encounter in September 2023.
He concluded:
“My signature weapon remains my kicks, which I’ll use to seal another win over Kongsuk. But this time, it’ll have more finishing power. I want to get the stoppage and leave zero doubts.”
Kongsuk Believes The Second Time Will Be The Charm
Dedduanglek may be confident his thunderous kicks will decide this ONE Friday Fights 167 rematch the same way they did the first time, but Kongsuk has spent the last three years making sure that story does not repeat itself.
Looking back on that all-important first encounter, the Sitsarawatsuer affiliate does not hide from what went wrong, pointing directly to the exact sequence that ultimately left him trailing on the judges’ scorecards.
He reflected:
“I’m really happy to get this chance at redemption. In our first fight, I made the mistake of eating four to six clean kicks, which was super frustrating. I was still pretty new to ONE at that time, and I rushed to try and go for a finish and grab a bonus.”
That lesson clearly stuck. Since suffering his first promotional loss to Dedduanglek, the 26-year-old phenom has rattled off six wins across his last nine appearances.
Kongsuk heads into this high-stakes sequel off back-to-back explosive knockouts of Babak Solouki and Khakimov “Warrior” Anisjon, which has positioned him as a serious frontrunner for the coveted US$100,000 main roster contract.
Much of that extraordinary turnaround, he explains, comes down to a masterfully timed, measured approach rather than an outright overhaul of his identity.
Kongsuk said:
“I’ve been working on adjusting my style, though I wouldn’t say I’m a full brawler now. I still try to balance pressing forward and stepping back depending on who I’m facing, because if you only march forward, your opponent will easily read your rhythm.”
With both men getting the chance to valiantly run things back as considerably sharper versions of themselves, one thing has not changed for Kongsuk: his read on what actually decides pivotal fights like this one.
Asked what he expects to be the deciding factor in their highly anticipated main event showdown at ONE Friday Fights 167, his answer echoed straight back to how their first encounter played out.
The Thai slugger told onefc.com:
“It’ll come down to the one with the superior game plan. It will be a battle of tactical execution. Whoever plans better will walk away victorious, much like how our first fight was decided.
“But if the opening presents itself, I’m definitely going for the finish. I’ll fight smart and stay composed, but the overall intensity will be much higher than before.”
