‘It Would Be Something Great’ – After Big Win At ONE Friday Fights 137, Sam-A Eyes A Final World Title Run
Former two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao knew exactly what he needed to do at ONE Friday Fights 137: Tawanchai vs. Liu this past Friday, December 19.
Win, and his ONE World Title dreams remain alive. Lose to rising star Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi, and retirement whispers would become deafening roars.
At 42 years old, the Thai icon stood inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium facing a 24-year-old flyweight knockout artist making his strawweight debut – and the odds weren’t necessarily in his favor. But after surviving early adversity and dropping his younger Thai compatriot twice in the second round, Sam-A secured a hard-fought unanimous decision that proved age is nothing but a number.
The opening round belonged to the young gun.
Jaosuayai, brimming with speed and power, showcased exactly why he’s considered one of the organization’s brightest striking talents. The Sor Dechapan product flung hard punches and thunderous kicks at the legendary Thai striker, often putting him on the back foot.
However, the Evolve MMA representative remained composed despite the difficult start, trusting his decades of experience to identify defensive lapses in his opponent’s aggressive approach. That patience paid off in round two when he caught Jaosuayai with a perfectly timed counter left hook that dropped the phenom for the first knockdown of the match.
Sam-A said:
“At that moment, he threw a hook, and I pulled back and threw a left hook in.
“Even after getting the first count, I still couldn’t underestimate him because he’s already a good puncher. I had to stay tight and be careful throughout. [It] was painful because his punches are very fast and very heavy.”
Jaosuayai demonstrated remarkable resilience, immediately rallying from the knockdown with a vengeance. The 24-year-old turned up the heat, backed his countryman to the ropes, and fired massive punches and elbows, which seemingly wobbled the Thai icon. Following a separation, he even ran at Sam-A with a flying knee.
The veteran southpaw hung tough, though. Sam-A threw counter-strikes that found the mark, and then floored him with an uppercut-left cross combination for the second knockdown of the stanza.
That proved decisive. The living legend seized control and never relinquished it, utilizing sharp elbows and crafty counters throughout the final round to seal the unanimous decision on all three judges’ scorecards.
Sam-A’s ability to weather the early storm and capitalize on opportunities proved to be the difference-maker, and the victory improved his career record to 377-50.
The Thai luminary had entered the ONE Friday Fights 137 battle with legitimate concerns about Jaosuayai’s speed and power. The younger fighter had built a dazzling highlight reel by knocking out other flyweights, so dropping to strawweight should have theoretically enhanced his destructive capabilities.
However, Sam-A predicted that the move down to the lighter weight class might neutralize some of those advantages.
The veteran explained:
“He’s very good in the 135-pound division, knocking people out easily. I was concerned about this because his hands are very good.
“But when he dropped down to this weight class, he might be tired, he might be drained, and he might not be used to this weight yet.”
Sam-A Wants World Title Shot, Previews Prajanchai Vs. Aliff
With his hard-fought victory over Jaosuayai now secured and momentum firmly on his side, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao may have positioned himself for a final ONE World Title run – and unfinished business fuels every step forward.
The Thai legend’s trophy case overflows with accomplishments spanning both Muay Thai and kickboxing, but one loss refuses to fade from his memory.
Earlier this year at ONE 172 in Tokyo, Japan, Sam-A challenged Jonathan Di Bella for the ONE Interim Strawweight Kickboxing World Title, only to fall short in the five-round battle.
Now, with Di Bella having unified the strawweight kickboxing crown, Sam-A sees an opportunity to rewrite that chapter. A rematch with the Italian-Canadian superstar would allow the veteran to prove the first encounter didn’t tell the complete story.
But kickboxing gold represents only half of the equation.
Sam-A also dreams of reclaiming the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title from Prajanchai PK Saenchai, setting up a trilogy showdown that would cap his legendary career with one final moment of glory.
He said:
“I want to get a title shot because at this age, if I could get one shot at the title, it would be something great, no matter who the champion is.”
Sam-A is ready for either World Title challenge. However, he understands the path to Prajanchai may require more patience.
The reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion has a future date with Aliff Sor Dechapan, the Thai-Malaysian sensation who earned his title shot after defeating Ramadan Ondash at ONE Fight Night 38 earlier this month. The 21-year-old contender extended his winning streak to five with that victory and was promised the next crack at the gold.
While Sam-A may need to wait for that bout to unfold, he’ll be paying close attention to how the matchup develops.
The veteran shared his view on the forthcoming showdown:
“In this matchup, Aliff is a tall fighter who’s difficult to fight. Prajanchai is crafty. This will be an exciting fight.
“I think it will go the distance with their styles. I favor Prajanchai because of his angles and craftiness. If he can get close and clinch, I think he wins 60-40 with his in-fight adjustments, craftiness, and experience because Prajanchai has fought taller opponents and opponents his same height.”
