ONE Friday Fights 172 Co-Main Event Result: Yodkatanyu Outlasts Liu Junchao In Gritty Split Decision Win
Former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Yodkatanyu Jitmuangnon overcame Chinese star Liu Junchao‘s punishing onslaught to eke out a split decision victory in the flyweight kickboxing co-main event of ONE Friday Fights 172.
The event took place on Friday, September 25, and streamed live in Asia primetime from Bangkok, Thailand’s historic Lumpinee Stadium.
Yodkatanyu looked very comfortable in his kickboxing transition early in the first round, finding his rhythm specifically with precise low kicks from the outside and a sharp cross that consistently halted Liu’s forward rush.
However, the Chinese striker kept pressing, even landing a highlight-reel superman punch that proved to be the best shot of the round.
After a technical start, Yodkatanyu ramped up his nifty footwork in the second frame, weaving his way through Liu’s ranged combinations and stepping back from the pocket to counter with hooks and hard body kicks. The Jitmuangnon Gym product was able to circle away from Liu’s power shots, landing clean hits and staying mostly out of danger.
With a sense of urgency, the final round saw Liu double down on his knockout hunt, concealing his heavy overhand rights behind a left jab set-up.
Both fighters slowed as the exchanges mounted, but Yodkatanyu timed the wide throws with pinpoint counterstrikes. As the clock wound down, the two warriors swung freely in an entertaining battle in the final moments of the fight that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
In the end, Yodkatanyu’s precision and accumulated volume weighed more heavily on the judges’ scorecards. The split decision opened the Thai’s ONE Championship account in victorious fashion and pushed his career record to 51-15.
ONE Friday Fights 172 Full Results:
- Yodkatanyu Jitmuangnon defeats Liu Junchao via split decision (kickboxing – flyweight)
- Teeyai Torfunfarm defeats Mungkorn Sor Sombatfarm via knockout at 2:29 of round one (Muay Thai – strawweight)
- Nuapayak Jitmuangnon defeats Suajan Sor Isarachot via knockout at 2:07 of round one (Muay Thai – flyweight)
- Basir Saraliev defeats Sarmad Jahanara via unanimous decision (MMA – lightweight)
- Ma Zhenzhao defeats Samransing Sitchalongsak via knockout at 2:52 of round one (Muay Thai – strawweight)
- Khurshed Gafurov defeats Leevi Heino via unanimous decision (MMA – featherweight)
- Yuya Shibata defeats Bevan Ali Oguz via knockout (punches) at 1:52 of round one (kickboxing – featherweight)
- Yutaro Hori defeats Duangbuppha O Sansuk via TKO at 0:34 of round three (kickboxing – bantamweight)
- Tangtang Sor Dechapan defeats Trieu Thi Phuong Thuy via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – atomweight)
