‘Going To Be An Exciting War’ – Black Panther Anticipates Wild Firefight With Diego Paez At ONE Fight Night 40
Thai striking sensation Black Panther is on a roll, and he aims to extend his surge when he faces Colombian-American fighter Diego Paez in their flyweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video.
The 26-year-old enters the U.S. primetime spectacle on Friday, February 13, riding a four-fight winning streak with his sights set on extending that run inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
With the ONE flyweight Muay Thai throne currently vacant, every performance carries added weight. Black Panther understands that another statement victory could move him into serious contention.
He said:
“I’m facing Diego this time, and I’m not worried. I’m never scared of fighting foreigners. I have total faith that our Muay Thai is world-class and can’t be beaten. Diego fights a bit like an MMA striker – good hands, fast footwork, and heavy low kicks.
“He looked solid defensively when he beat Johan [Ghazali], but his defense won’t be a problem for me. I can fight going forward or off the back foot. I’m not scared of that style – I’ve got elite sparring partners at my gym who fight exactly like that.”
After suffering a setback in his promotional debut, Black Panther has rattled off four consecutive wins, with his last two coming by stoppage.
First, he flattened Ali Saldoev via a head-kick KO in the second round and, most recently, he accepted a short-notice opportunity at ONE Fight Night 37 to deliver another star-making performance. Stepping up to bantamweight, he dropped Colombian standout Johan “Panda Kick” Estupinan three times to secure a TKO victory, also in the second frame.
Now returning to flyweight and back in full camp, the Team Mehdi Zatout affiliate believes this is the most complete version of himself yet.
He explained:
“I’ve been in camp for nearly three months for this one. Prep has been much better than my last few fights. I’m coming in with every weapon – punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. I’m looking to end it with any of them. I’m hunting for that bonus, too. I want to build a house for my family. A bonus would be life-changing for us.”
The Thai striker has built a reputation for reading opponents quickly and adjusting in real time.
He knows Paez brings confidence after edging teenage sensation Ghazali last June, but Black Panther plans to dictate the pace and close the show in a decisive way.
The Thai warrior said:
“If it doesn’t end in a knockout, it’s definitely going to be an exciting war. It depends on the situation. If he backs up, I’ll press. If he comes forward, I’ll counter. The moment I see an opening, I’m closing the show.
“I think this is the most important fight of my ONE career. A win here makes it five in a row. I’m going to leave it all out there.”
Black Panther Wants To Prove The Fire Never Left
With his stock rising fast in the world’s largest martial arts organization, Black Panther carries serious momentum into his flyweight Muay Thai showdown with Diego Paez at ONE Fight Night 40.
Leg and knee injuries slowed his activity over the past two years, interrupting what he believed should have been a steady climb. The setbacks tested his patience and fueled a deeper hunger to return stronger.
Instead of allowing frustration to take over, he doubled down.
He stayed in the gym, trained daily, and prepared as if a fight was always around the corner. When Suablack Tor Pran49 withdrew in November and an opportunity opened, Black Panther didn’t hesitate to step in.
He recalled:
“Looking back at my last fight against Johan, I think I performed way better than people expected. A lot of people thought that since I’d been away for so long, my cardio or my rhythm would be off. But honestly, being away from the ring for nearly two years just lit a fire under me. It made me hungrier. I wanted that knockout so bad, and I actually pulled it off.”
Instead of ring rust, he delivered a statement.
Against Estupinan, he proved the layoff hadn’t dulled his tools, handing the Colombian his first career knockout loss.
Now back at full health and riding momentum, he sees Friday as another step toward the flyweight elite.
He said:
“Now that I’m back and fighting regularly, I’m hungrier and stronger than ever. No injuries are holding me back. My confidence for this fight is higher than it’s ever been. Camp was perfect.
“My goal for 2026 is to break into the rankings. I’m not looking at the title shot just yet, but if I can get into that top five, I’ll be proud. This is my third fight on the ONE global stage, and I’m going to give it my all to get into the ranking.”
