‘I Want The Title Shot’ – Taiki Naito Has Jonathan Di Bella In Sight After Avenging His Loss Against Kongthoranee
Japanese striker Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito settled an old score, extended his winning streak, and now believes the time has come to chase the biggest prize of his career.
The 30-year-old edged Kongthoranee Sor Sommai in their flyweight kickboxing rematch at ONE Fight Night 49, which aired live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, November 6.
With the triumph, the Bell Wood Fight Team veteran extended his winning streak to four, improved his professional record to 40-14, and avenged a defeat he suffered to Kongthoranee under Muay Thai rules in October 2023.
Despite pulling one back against the three-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion, he doesn’t view the result as an act of vengeance. Instead, “Silent Sniper” believes their latest encounter marked the beginning of an entirely different chapter in their rivalry.
Naito told onefc.com:
“When I lost to him, I knew he was a very good fighter. And the moment I won against him, I was very happy. Kickboxing is my rule set, Muay Thai is his rule set. So, I don’t see this as a revenge match. I see this more as our first match in kickboxing.”
While he may have played down the revenge narrative, the 30-year-old knew exactly what was at stake against a familiar foe. The former Shoot Boxing Champion started brightly, rocking his foe with a right-left combination before finding success with his body punches in the second round.
However, the Thai responded with a sharp left hook that shifted the momentum, forcing the Japanese striker to dig deep. With the contest finely poised, “Silent Sniper” found his moment in the final frame, dropping Kongthoranee with a perfectly timed left hook.
It was a defining moment in a fight that could have easily gone either way – and one Naito knew he had to deliver.
He said:
“In the second round, I thought that if I received any damage, I needed to return [similar fire] back. In my mind, [I knew] that I could not afford to lose this fight, and those things helped me win this fight.
“When [I earned] the last knockdown in the third round, that [confirmed] everything. Because if I couldn’t knock Kongthoranee down, we wouldn’t know what the result would have been.”
That decisive moment may have come courtesy of a punch, but his success was rooted in a much bigger game plan.
Having already experienced Kongthoranee’s dangerous arsenal in “the art of eight limbs,” he entered their kickboxing rematch with a clear strategy to neutralize the Thai’s most effective weapons while making his own firepower count.
The 30-year-old said:
“I used my punches to control the game, and I expected Kongthoranee to kick me a lot. So I checked that, and I made sure that I [wasn’t] receiving any [damage back].”
Naito Reveals His Dream Fight For Vacant Flyweight Crown
A trilogy between Taiki Naito and Kongthoranee Sor Sommai could certainly provide another captivating chapter in their rivalry, but the Japanese striker has his eyes on a far greater prize.
Having strung together four consecutive victories, “Silent Sniper” believes he has done enough to warrant a shot at the vacant ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title.
And there is one man he desperately wants standing across from him when that opportunity arrives – reigning ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Di Bella.
He said:
“To be honest, I want it to be decided already that Di Bella is going to fight with me next year. [I want] the title shot.”
However, he may have to exercise a little patience before his dream matchup can materialize. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong has already indicated that Di Bella is expected to return at ONE 174 in December to defend his strawweight kickboxing crown.
That hasn’t dampened Naito’s enthusiasm one bit, though. He is more than willing to wait for Di Bella to fulfill his championship obligations, especially if it means the two can eventually collide for the vacant flyweight throne.
Naito said:
“Jonathan Di Bella, you are a wonderful champion and I know that you need to defend your belt. But if there are no opponents that can fight against you anymore [in strawweight], and if you want another belt, I’m ready to fight you [for the flyweight kickboxing World Title].”
