‘I’m Hunting For The Knockout’ – Kongchai Sets Aggressive Tone Ahead Of ONE Friday Fights 140 Main Event
Fifteen appearances into his ONE Friday Fights journey, Kongchai Chanaidonmueang is no longer chasing momentum. He is demanding resolution.
On Friday, January 30, in Asia primetime, the 23-year-old Thai southpaw will headline ONE Friday Fights 140 at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, where he faces Myanmar powerhouse Thway Lin Htet in a high-stakes strawweight Muay Thai clash.
As the most active competitor in the history of the weekly spectacle, Kongchai enters the bout carrying experience few others can match. A statement win this Friday would move him closer to the life-changing US$100,000 main-roster contract that has long hovered within reach.
A former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion, he has built his reputation on a punishing left straight, a destructive left body kick, and clinch work refined through constant exposure at the highest level of competition.
Years of navigating pressure-filled fights have sharpened Kongchai’s sense of urgency, shaping how he approaches this matchup as a chance to impose pace and intent from the opening bell.
The Tor Sangtiennoi athlete said:
“Thway Lin Htet’s durability doesn’t scare me. I’ve fought plenty of tough guys and won. I actually prefer fighting brawlers. Whenever I’m in a slugfest, I usually win. It’s the muay femur fighters that give me more trouble.
“I watched his last fight – he’s incredibly tough. Even when Sam-A caught him with big shots, he stayed standing. His strength is his unpredictability. He throws those weird, flashy moves, like that spinning backfist that caught Sam-A. He clearly trains those, and they can be tricky to defend. He’s got a lot of X-factor in his striking.”
Despite suffering a close-decision loss to Sam-A Gaiyanghadao at ONE Friday Fights 126, Thway Lin Htet showcased high-level striking. He dropped the Thai legend in the second round with a counter spinning backfist while being pressured into the corner.
That unpredictability once carried him through a four-fight winning streak in the series, underlining the threat he poses even against elite opposition.
Kongchai’s focus, however, remains internal. He sharpens habits, corrects patterns, and removes the margins that have lingered in recent outings.
That self-assessment has been blunt, and it begins with urgency:
“This time, I’m throwing everything at him. I’m hunting for the knockout. If we start trading and I see a gap, I’m going for it. I definitely want that bonus. His weakness is that he doesn’t check kicks well, his defense can be sloppy. He’s tough, sure, but when he gets hit, he slows down.
“I’ve seen him stall. If he doesn’t start checking my kicks, he’s in trouble. Once I land my power shots, he’s going to fade. This fight, I’m pushing the pace immediately. No more ‘slow starter’ excuses. If I get past him, I’m ready for anyone ONE throws at me. In this division, Prajanchai is the gold standard.”
Kongchai Targets Faster Starts And Cleaner Execution
Despite his experience, Kongchai Chanaidonmueang remains unsatisfied with recent performances. In his latest appearance against ONE veteran Walter Goncalves he emerged victorious, but the result came with reminders that efficiency matters as much as output.
The southpaw acknowledged that while his kicks scored consistently, defensive lapses and delayed aggression left room for improvement – particularly in a division where margins close quickly.
At ONE Friday Fights 140, he plans to shut down Thway Lin Htet with early conviction:
“In my last outing, I got a score from landing my kicks because my opponent didn’t like to guard them. So I saw plenty of openings. I’d give myself a 7 out of 10, though, because I still ate a lot of shots. My biggest weakness is my blocking – I’m still struggling with that.
“Also, the fans are right, I’m a slow starter. I tend to wait until the third round to really let my hands go. I need to fix that. I can’t afford to wait, I have to be firing from the very first bell.”
With another main event opportunity approaching, Kongchai believes preparation, both physical and mental, has aligned.
The goal this time is not just to win, but to establish consistency and momentum after a quieter stretch last year.
The 23-year-old announced:
“My goal this year is to rack up more wins. Last year, I only got two, so I need to stay busier. To the fans, please keep supporting me. I’m going to give it my all. Physically and mentally, I’m at 100 percent.
“And to Thway Lin Htet, see you on Friday. Get ready to catch my weapons!”
