‘Bring The Belt Back Home’ – Songchainoi Confident He Can Topple Old Foe Nadaka In World Title Rematch At ONE SAMURAI 1
Everything in Songchainoi Kiatsongrit‘s journey has been building toward this moment.
On April 29 at ONE SAMURAI 1, inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, the Thai contender challenges Nadaka for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship. At the event, ambition, experience, and unfinished business will collide.
The Japanese athlete is one of the most complete strikers of his generation. His rise has been defined by speed, precision, and an ability to control fights before opponents can settle into a rhythm.
Songchainoi understands the challenge but believes he has the tools to solve it:
“Nadaka’s strengths include his speed, precision, and game analysis skills round by round. Those make him very special.
“I still haven’t seen him being attacked and badly injured. I haven’t seen him being struck fully on point. Therefore, if I could get close enough and strike him fully on point, we will see how well he could withstand my punches.”
Few opponents have tested Nadaka under sustained pressure. His movement and timing have prevented clean strikes from landing, leaving uncertainty around how he would respond if pushed into uncomfortable territory.
The Eiwa Sports Gym affiliate has remained flawless in ONE, scoring four wins since his debut at ONE 172 in March 2025 to extend his overall winning streak to 40.
For Songchainoi, that unanswered question presents a clear opening.
Since learning of the matchup, he and his team have sharpened their preparation, focusing on tactical discipline and calculated execution. Closing distance alone will not be enough. It must be done with precision against one of the most elusive fighters in the sport.
He said:
“Our camp has prepared spontaneous and tactical adjustments meticulously.
“I am also very driven to bring the championship back home. I need to train very well because many opponents who faced him before were beaten. I was beaten, too. And I don’t want to lose again. I would like to bring the belt back home.”
Songchainoi lost to Nadaka when they first met three years ago outside of ONE. Since then, the Thai has built a resume of 10 victories across 11 appearances in the organization, earning his place in this World Title fight.
A split-decision loss to Numsurin Chor Ketwina last August at ONE Friday Fights 122 postponed his shot at the inaugural World Title. The lessons from that defeat have sharpened both his discipline and his awareness heading into this opportunity.
He said:
“Losing in the match against Numsurin has made me want to become the champion even more. I have also learned many things from the fight with him.
“I have seen so many things and I have seen the [championship within reach]. There was an opportunity to win the championship in atomweight. It has made me crave for it. I want it. To be honest, I need it so badly. I want to have it. It is so beautiful. I want to place it on my shoulder.”
Songchainoi Gears Up To Prevail In Hostile Territory
When Songchainoi Kiatsongrit steps into Ariake Arena, he has the chance to settle two accounts at once.
A victory would avenge his loss to Nadaka while claiming the most prestigious prize of his career. But doing so means overcoming more than just his opponent. Fighting in Japan puts him in front of a partisan crowd where every strike from Nadaka will echo through the arena.
He said:
“Fighting in Japan, surrounded by the fans of Nadaka, it is surely a lot of pressure. As you know, once he kicks, the audience is going to roar very loudly. But when I do kick, it’s going to be quiet.
“That is the pressure, but I had this experience the first time we fought. I feel like that is what I have to adjust myself into.”
Songchainoi embraces the moment, driven by national pride and a journey that has been building toward exactly this.
He said:
“As a Thai citizen and a Thai boxer, I really want to bring [the belt] back home. I really do. I would be the first Thai fighter to beat him. No one has taken him down yet.
“He has been keeping his winning streak. If I could be the one who breaks his streak and brings the belt back, it would be really awesome. It would be amazing.”
