‘I Proved That I Could’ – Aliff Reflects On The Night He Beat Sam-A And Became Malaysia’s First ONE World Champion
Talent was never in question for Aliff Sor Dechapan, and the only thing left to prove was whether he could hold up against true greatness.
All those doubts were emphatically erased at The Inner Circle 23 this past Friday, July 24, as the 22-year-old Thai-Malaysian sensation knocked out former two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao in the fifth round of the main event.
By defeating the living legend at the event, which streamed exclusively via live.onefc.com from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, Aliff was crowned the new ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion.
Before etching his name into the history books as the first Malaysian ever to capture ONE World Title gold, he had to go through every inch of the wringer. The opening rounds played out as a carefully contested chess match, with youth and reach pitted against experience and guile.
Aliff’s movement, range, and clean counters kept Sam-A largely at bay, as the tall Kuala Lumpur native steadily wore down the Muay Thai icon. The championship rounds, however, would demand something more, and his corner had exactly the answer he needed.
The Sor Dechapan product told onefc.com:
“I started noticing in the third round that Sam-A was slowing down. When I went back to the corner before the fifth round, my team told me to increase the pressure and throw more weapons.
“So when I came out, I stepped up the pace, pushed forward, and attacked more frequently until I was finally able to finish the fight.”
Aliff had been tagging Sam-A all night with rangy kicks and sharp straights, all while slipping in sharp elbows whenever the living legend closed the distance. Yet despite the success, he resisted the urge to force the finish.
After all, one wrong move against a man with over 378 career victories could have been a grave mistake. He stayed measured and composed, trusting the process right until the devastating blow that put Sam-A down for good and earned him a well-deserved US$50,000 performance bonus.
The Malaysian shared:
“My [corner] told me to stick to my game plan and stay calm. If the opportunity to finish the fight came, I should take it, but if it wasn’t there, I shouldn’t force anything.
“We never expected to get a quick knockout. We just waited for the right moment and made it count.”
Beyond the historical significance, the manner of the achievement made it all the sweeter. Sam-A possesses one of the sport’s most decorated resumes of all time, and beating him – and even knocking him out – is a rare feat.
Aliff may have the interim belt, but nothing about what he accomplished feels temporary. For now, though, he is going to savor every second of proving his naysayers wrong.
The newly crowned king offered:
“To me, this interim World Title belt feels just like a real World Championship because defeating a legend like Sam-A is not something that happens every day.
“Many people had said before that I couldn’t match his experience and fighting pedigree, but today, I proved that I could.”
Aliff Sets Sights On Prajanchai Unification
Aliff Sor Dechapan’s journey to this moment genuinely took a village. His father joined training camp in Thailand for the first time, while his mother kept him nourished. Even the nation’s highest office was behind him, with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim personally lending his support.
Nothing, however, prepared him for the sight of his countrymen flooding Lumpinee Stadium. Aliff made sure to honor every one of them after the final bell, greeting the passionate Malaysian faithful who had cheered on every strike he threw.
He said:
“I’m truly touched and grateful. I never expected so many Malaysians to travel here to support me. Before the fight, I was overwhelmed with emotion because everything I had worked so hard for was finally happening, and I had so many people cheering me on and giving me their support. I sincerely want to thank everyone.”
The moment Aliff was declared the winner, the unification conversation needed no prompting.
A post-fight faceoff with reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai PongSuphan PK made the next chapter unmistakably clear. The hunger, the belief, and the refusal to be denied – it only deepens now that 26 pounds of gold hang around his waist.
Aliff said:
“I have already stood face-to-face with Prajanchai several times, and I hope this time we finally get to fight, for real. I’m ready to face him.
“The most important thing from this point forward is going back to the drawing board. He has speed that is no different from mine, and he can switch between both stances. I need to study what he will bring into the fight and make sure my body is fully prepared.”
