‘He Feels Like Family’ – Muangthai Honors Seksan’s Legacy With Emotional TKO Victory At The Inner Circle 30
Seksan “The Man Who Yields To No One” Or Kwanmuang fought his last fight the only way he has ever fought, going forward, refusing to budge, and giving everything he had. At the end of it, his long-time rival was there to retire him at The Inner Circle 30.
“Elbow Zombie” Muangthai PK Saenchai stopped the legendary striker via TKO in the third round of their bantamweight Muay Thai co-main event on Friday, September 11, at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, in Asia primetime.
The 32-year-old multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion opened the first round with a sharp left hook that put Seksan on the canvas for the first time in the contest. The veteran rose and continued, because that is what Seksan does, and the second round descended into the kind of blow-for-blow war that has defined every chapter of this rivalry.
Then came the third, and with it, a reminder of exactly why Muangthai carries the nickname “Elbow Zombie.” A precisely timed elbow landed flush on Seksan, sending the legend to the canvas for the second time. The referee stepped in, and Muangthai was declared the winner via TKO.
Taking a step back from the result itself, the circumstances that led to this sixth meeting were not straightforward. When Seksan chose him as the opponent for his farewell, it carried a significance that Muangthai felt he could not turn away from, regardless of any reservations he had held beforehand.
Muangthai said:
“When the matchup was made, I was actually surprised. I didn’t think he’d pick me. I had previously mentioned I didn’t want to fight him again since we’ve already fought so many times. I ultimately decided to take it to honor him. Opportunities like this don’t come around often. It was a huge honor that he chose me, and it becomes a big part of my history too.”
Seksan’s fighting spirit across all three rounds was entirely in keeping with a career built on never yielding to anyone. Despite the two knockdowns, despite the punishment absorbed, he kept pressing forward in a manner that drew admiration rather than sympathy from everyone watching inside Lumpinee Stadium and around the world.
Muangthai knew better than anyone what it takes to keep Seksan down, and the question of whether finishing the fight was a specific aim drew a revealing answer from the veteran. His response cut to the heart of the respect that has always run beneath this rivalry.
He said:
“If the opportunity came up, sure. But his fighting spirit is unreal. Just like him — if he had the chance to knock me out, he would’ve taken it without hesitation because he’s a true warrior. He’s a legend, and he’s the type of guy who never backs down against anyone.”
Behind the finish lay a disciplined game plan built around patience and precision. Fighting a warrior of Seksan’s caliber requires more than aggression, and charging in recklessly against a fighter of his experience and durability carries its own risks. Muangthai’s corner recognized that truth and delivered instructions to match it.
The result was a performance that blended controlled aggression with the kind of composure that only comes from years of high-level competition, and the finishing elbow that ended the night was the reward for following the blueprint to the letter.
The Thai veteran said:
“The game plan came from my boss, Sia Khaek. He specifically told me, ‘Don’t fight wild. Pick your shots and don’t brawl recklessly.’ So I tried not to trade wildly. I focused on blocking his strikes, finding the right timing to counter, and keeping composed.”
Muangthai Struggled To Feel Joy In Victory, Paid Tribute To A Brother
The emotion that hit Muangthai PK Saenchai when the stoppage was called had very little to do with winning.
A fighter who has competed more than 250 times in his career understands victory in all its forms. What he felt in the immediate aftermath of this one was something else entirely, a mixture of relief, sadness, and the weight of knowing that the man he had just stopped was walking away from competition forever.
The rivalry between Muangthai and Seksan has spanned years, fights, and a bond that goes far deeper than two fighters who happened to be matched against each other repeatedly. Their connection, maintained through messages and mutual respect, made this night uniquely difficult to process.
He said:
“Honestly, I couldn’t even feel fully happy about the win. It was such a mixed feeling because he feels like a brother to me. Even when we weren’t scheduled to fight, we’d message each other on Facebook all the time. Then suddenly we’re in the ring trading heavy shots, and he took some real damage tonight.
“It just hit me hard emotionally. I went up to him and said, ‘I’m done, brother. If there’s another one, I’m not taking it.’ I felt so bad — I just didn’t want to hurt him anymore. I don’t know if he considers us close, but to me, he feels like family. You just don’t want to keep hurting family.”
When the referee waved off the contest, Seksan walked to the center of the ring, removed his gloves, and placed them down. After 10 ONE wins, a career spanning decades, and a rivalry that became one of the most storied in Muay Thai history, the 37-year-old warrior known as one of the most dangerous and entertaining fighters the sport has ever produced rode quietly into the sunset.
For Muangthai, who has shared the ring with Seksan six times, seeing his rival and brother step away carried a bittersweet quality that he did not attempt to hide.
He concluded:
“He’s a true role model for so many younger fighters. A warrior who never takes a step backward and gives it his all every single fight regardless of win or loss. Seeing him hang it up is bittersweet, but given his age and career, he has new paths and opportunities ahead. I’m genuinely happy for him.”
