‘More Powerful And Better’ – Wuttikrai And Mohammad Habibpour Ready To Deliver At ONE Friday Fights 168
Wuttikrai Wor Chakrawut and Mohammad “Prince of Persia” Habibpour are both chasing the same result from very different starting points in their highly anticipated main event clash at ONE Friday Fights 168.
Their pivotal bantamweight Muay Thai showdown streams live in Asia primetime this Friday, August 28, from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. Both men know a victory carries real weight in their bid to secure the coveted US$100,000 main roster contract.
Here is what the Thai star and Iranian striker had to say ahead of their high-stakes headliner.
Wuttikrai Eyes A Rapid Response
Wuttikrai returns to the ring slightly over a month after picking apart Sonrak Fairtex across three rounds at The Inner Circle 22, snapping a two-match skid in the promotion.
That result carried plenty of weight for the Thai standout, and it clearly fuels him heading into this next assignment.
The 25-year-old shared:
“That win against Sonrak gave me confidence after losing two in a row. I only had a one-week break before I got this offer. Since then, I went right back into training. I’m prepared for this fight.”
He has since poured that momentum into preparing for a very different kind of test.
Wuttikrai, who kicked off his ONE Championship campaign with three successive finishes, has broken down the contrasts between his last opponent and Habibpour in detail.
Those differences have shaped exactly how he plans to solve this upcoming test.
The Thai continued:
“The biggest difference between Sonrak and Mohammad is that Sonrak is a much faster fighter. Also, Mohammad is not good in the clinch. Otherwise, he’s quite durable and has got good, powerful hands.
“So, for this camp, I’ve been preparing a game plan to maintain a good distance while figuring out how to close him down. Once we figure out the right game plan, I will find ways to get inside and put him into the clinch and use my knees and elbows to hurt him.”
Wuttikrai does not plan to simply outwork the “Prince of Persia” whenever the fight reaches that juncture, though.
The Wor Chakrawut affiliate has his sights set on a decisive finish to secure his 52nd career victory, and he has structured a meaningful part of this camp around that exact goal.
He revealed:
“Actually, in the clinch, I believe I can figure out a couple of ways to knock him out. I’ve focused on that [sequence] a lot in preparation for him. My most dangerous weapons in the clinch are my elbows and knees.”
Habibpour Refuses To Blink
Wuttikrai’s confidence heading into ONE Friday Fights 168 has done little to shake Habibpour.
The 22-year-old Iranian has studied every angle of his opponent’s game in the lead-up to this fight, coming away with a clear read on where he stands.
He told onefc.com:
“Generally, I do not see any weak points in Wuttikrai. That said, I feel much more ready than the last fight. The last time, I wasn’t 100 percent ready, but now, I’m more powerful and better.”
That last outing — his promotional debut — came against Kongklai Sor Sommai at ONE Friday Fights 144 this past February, where the Team Mehdi Zatout standout suffered a second-round TKO.
Rather than dwell on the setback, Habibpour spent the ensuing months making specific adjustments, particularly regarding the style he expects to see from his opponent.
He pointed out:
“I’ve changed and improved my fighting style since my debut. Wuttikrai is another fighter who [thrives] in close distances, and that will make the fight more interesting and attractive.”
With those lessons in mind, the Iranian has built out a detailed strategy for how he wants this crucial main event clash to unfold.
His preparation covers both ends of the fight, from the weapons he intends to lean on offensively to the habits he plans to account for defensively.
Habibpour explained:
“My main plan to fight [against his style] is to use my boxing and hands. I can rely on my kicks too, but I think that will only give Wuttikrai the chance to use his hands. Therefore, I want to focus on my hands.
“[The best method] for me is to attack him with left hooks and uppercuts to his stomach. These will be two tactics I’ll be relying on. In defense, I will keep an eye on Wuttikrai’s left kick and right punch. I’ll use my movement to defend against that.”
