‘I Refuse To Be A Stepping Stone’ – Kongthoranee Ready For Redemption Against Asadula Imangazaliev
Kongthoranee Sor Sommai has reached a crossroads in his career.
Now, the established Thai striker is determined to halt his slide and silence the critics when he faces dangerous Russian knockout artist Asadula Imangazaliev in a high-stakes flyweight Muay Thai clash.
The pair will collide in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 39: Rambolek vs. Dayakaev on Prime Video, which airs live in U.S. primetime from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, January 23.
The two-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion enters on the first two-fight losing streak of his ONE Championship tenure, having fallen via unanimous decision to both legendary Nong-O Hama and undefeated Uzbek sensation Aslamjon Ortikov in his most recent outing.
That loss to Ortikov stung deeply, as Kongthoranee was dropped in the second round for a knockdown that ultimately secured the Uzbek’s unanimous decision victory. Now sitting at 11-4 in promotional competition despite an impressive 72-18 career record, the Thai veteran knows his back is against the wall.
Reflecting on his most recent defeat, Kongthoranee emphasized his readiness to bounce back:
“Losing to Aslamjon left me disappointed and full of regret because we couldn’t secure the win. But it’s okay, I’m ready to get back up and fight again.”
Despite his recent setbacks, Kongthoranee had won eight of his first nine promotional bouts since debuting in 2023, including three consecutive victories over top-flight competition following his only previous loss to “The Kicking Machine” Superlek.
That run included a stunning victory over Nong-O before losing the rematch, proving the Thai striker belongs among the division’s elite when operating at his best. Now, he must rediscover that form against one of the division’s most dangerous young stars.
Standing in his path to redemption is 22-year-old Imangazaliev, who brings a perfect 10-0 striking record and six promotional wins into his U.S. primetime debut. The Team Mehdi Zatout representative has collected five knockout victories in ONE, establishing himself as an unpredictable finisher who can flatline opponents with flashy spinning attacks, devastating punches, and explosive kicks.
Kongthoranee acknowledged the threat posed by the Russian:
“My next opponent is Asadula. His strength is definitely his speed. He’s a complete fighter with dangerous punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. It’s true his record is impressive, but I’ve lost two in a row now. I want this win badly, and I will do my absolute best.”
In his last outing, Imangazaliev delivered a statement performance against Lumpinee Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion “The Angel Warrior” Panpayak Jitmuangnon, connecting with a devastating head kick that ended the legendary Thai’s night in spectacular fashion in August 2025.
Kongthoranee was particularly impressed by Imangazaliev’s supreme dismantling of Panpayak and also acknowledged his own underdog status heading into this clash.
He said:
“Asadula’s recent performance against Panpayak was incredible. That head-kick knockout was so clinical. Beating a top-tier fighter like Panpayak shows that he is far from ordinary.
“I’m being viewed as the underdog for this fight, which is fair. I’ve lost two straight while he’s a rising star. But this fight is my chance to prove that I still have the fire and that I can reclaim my best form.”
Kongthoranee Promises ‘New Version’ To Silence Critics
The pressure of back-to-back defeats has created a fire within Kongthoranee Sor Sommai that burns hotter than anything he’s previously experienced.
For a fighter who has spent his entire career winning more often than losing, the reality of consecutive setbacks has been a jarring wake-up call that demanded significant changes to his approach.
Speaking about the mental toll of his recent struggles, Kongthoranee didn’t hold back.
The southpaw striker said:
“Coming off two straight losses, I definitely feel the pressure. I’ve never lost back-to-back before. Having lost two in a row makes me never want to feel that way again. It’s become the motivation that drives me to train harder and push myself further.”
With critics beginning to question whether his ONE World Title contention window has closed with younger fighters like Imangazaliev representing the division’s future, Kongthoranee is determined to prove that reports of his decline have been greatly exaggerated.
When asked about his mindset heading into Friday’s co-main event, the Thai made his intentions crystal clear.
Kongthoranee declared:
“I refuse to be a stepping stone for him. I’m giving this everything I’ve got. I don’t know who will win or lose, but I’m coming to fight 100 percent. I am determined to redeem myself. I don’t want a third loss. You’re going to see a ‘new version’ of Kongthoranee.”
