Liu Mengyang’s Brutal Leg Kick Stuns Tawanchai In 52 Seconds At ONE Friday Fights 137
“Spirit Dragon” Liu Mengyang claimed the biggest victory on his resume in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 137, stopping reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai in less than a minute.
The 22-year-old silenced the deafening Lumpinee Stadium crowd in Bangkok, Thailand, and millions watching across the globe in this featherweight kickboxing contest, which aired live in Asia primetime on Friday, December 19.
Tawanchai wasted no time asserting his dominance, sending a fierce teep straight down the middle that briefly sat Liu down on the canvas. The Chinese star, however, stuck to his pre-fight promise and responded to his opposite number’s fire in the same manner.
When the match resumed, the Shunyuan Fight Club affiliate stepped in with a sharp right hand and drove the 26-year-old Thai back toward the ropes, signaling that he’s ready to turn this clash into a show of violence.
The PK Saenchai Muaythaigym technician, who recently tied the knot and welcomed his firstborn, adjusted well. He managed his range behind his teep, creating openings while “Spirit Dragon” waited to read his movements.
Every time the Thai megastar trimmed the distance, the 22-year-old star slammed an inside leg kick into his Thai rival’s lead leg. On the fourth strike to the same spot, Tawanchai sat down on the canvas. His reaction was a telltale that things didn’t look too good.
Despite his best effort to soldier on, the featherweight Muay Thai king was unable to rise before the referee’s count. In turn, Liu earned the TKO victory via leg kick at the 52-second mark of the opening stanza.
Liu’s triumph lifted his resume to 35-7, and earned him his third victorious outing on the global stage after wins over Shadow Singha Mawynn and former K-1 champion Masaaki Noiri in the past 12 months.
More importantly, the Chinese standout may have firmly established himself as a future challenger to reigning and undisputed ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
