‘It’s Easy For Me To Beat Him’ – Valerii Strungari Plans To Outsmart Kongchai At The Inner Circle
Moldovan standout Valerii Strungari has spent the past few months replaying every single minute of his most recent outing, and he walks into The Inner Circle this Friday, June 5, with those crucial lessons already locked in.
The 24-year-old meets Thai slugger Kongchai Chanaidonmueang in a high-stakes strawweight Muay Thai main event, broadcasting live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium. The entire card is available exclusively to subscribers on live.onefc.com.
Strungari enters this marquee matchup against the former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion looking to firmly reset the trajectory of his journey on the global stage.
After opening his promotional account with an exquisite third-round knockout over Sanit Aekmuangnon at ONE Friday Fights 133, he suffered a setback against Denkriangkrai Mavinn Muaythai in his sophomore outing this past March.
The 24-year-old has spent every waking minute since reviewing exactly what unfolded that night. The most important lesson, by his own admission, was the one that lived between his own ears rather than on the tape.
He told onefc.com:
“In my last fight, I kind of made a mistake. I was searching for the knockout throughout the fight as opposed to following the tactics that I prepared for in camp.
“So, I kind of threw all that away in the moment. But now, I’m focused and ready to make sure I stick to the plan to get the job done.”
Getting the job done, of course, requires knowing exactly what stands across from you. The Moldovan striker has spent countless hours studying Kongchai, and what the tape has shown him reads more like a tactical blueprint.
The Thai veteran’s institutional weight is undeniable — the three-fight winning streak, the US$100,000 main-roster contract conversation, and the deep credentialing across Thailand’s most respected stadiums.
But Strungari has also identified specific dimensions where his opponent has shown room to be exploited.
He explained:
“Kongchai is an experienced fighter. He’s also on a three-fight winning streak, and I know that he’s aiming and going towards the contract now.
“His left-sided attacks and general arsenal are strong. But he doesn’t use too much of his right side. But we’ll see what plan he has for this fight. I’ve also noticed that he’s been using more elbows lately.”
The meticulous film study has built the blueprint. The grueling training camp has built the physical execution. And the tough lesson from the Denkriangkrai loss has built the mental discipline.
As such, the Team Mehdi Zatout warrior is not arriving at The Inner Circle recklessly hunting the highlight-reel knockout that pulled him off his game plan in March.
Instead, he vows to bring a smart, patient, and highly calculated approach, which will tremendously help him answer every question the Tor Sangtiennoi product plans to ask in the Thai capital.
Strungari added:
“I know he is going to challenge me to a fight. However, if I work smartly against him, it’s easy for me to beat him technically.”
Strungari Maps Out His Path To Victory
Valerii Strungari is leaving absolutely nothing to chance as he seeks a pivotal bounce-back triumph in this Friday’s headliner.
From the opening exchanges to the assessment phase and the exact moment the offense gets fully unleashed — every specific second of this fight has been pre-visualized at the Pattaya-based camp led by renowned coach Mehdi Zatout.
The youngster continued:
“I think he’s going to start a bit slower. But I’m going to watch what he brings, assess the situation, and try to find a way to break him down.
“Once I gauge him, I’ll go at him with more aggression. If it doesn’t go to plan, though, I’ve got plan B and plan C – depending on the situation.”
The blueprint is one thing. The sheer willingness to scrap if the fight demands it is another matter entirely.
Strungari has zero interest in handing Kongchai any kind of emotional or tactical edge inside the mecca of Muay Thai. The Moldovan fighter fully expects his 23-year-old foe to dial up the aggression once the early rounds settle in.
He also has a definitive plan for that exact scenario. And it certainly does not involve taking a backward step.
Strungari concluded:
“I’m not going to back down from Kongchai. I’m going to fight with him if he wants to fight me. I think he’s going to expect my mistakes in the first rounds, and then he’s going to come at me in the second and third rounds.
“But I can play with Kongchai’s emotions too. Maybe I can work him up in the first round, make him think, and then switch it up in the second round. But if he starts to get aggressive, I’m going to be aggressive too.”
