‘Someone’s Getting Knocked Out’ – Nakrob Promises All-Out War In Return Against Panrit At ONE Friday Fights 143
Thai warrior Nakrob Fairtex will look to return to winning ways when he faces compatriot Panrit Lukjaomaesaiwaree in bantamweight Muay Thai action in the featured bout of ONE Friday Fights 143 on February 20.
The all-Thai showdown airs live in Asia primetime from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Fairtex Training Center representative returns to the weekly event series where he earned his life-changing US$100,000 contract seeking redemption after suffering back-to-back knockout defeats. His most recent setback came against Japanese veteran Taiki Naito, who finished in less than three minutes.
The Thai striker has spent considerable time analyzing his performance against Naito, identifying the mistakes that left him vulnerable.
The 27-year-old explained:
“In my last fight against Taiki, I got knocked out because I was careless — I left myself too open and got caught by a counter straight. To be honest, I was shocked that I went down so easily. When I got back up, my head was spinning so bad I couldn’t find my balance and got KO’d.”
Currently sitting at 10-4 in promotional competition, Nakrob faces a critical crossroads in his ONE Championship journey. He has decided to make a significant change, moving up from flyweight to bantamweight in hopes of improving his durability and performance.
When asked about the decision to change weight classes, Nakrob revealed his reasoning.
He said:
“When I fought at [flyweight], I had to cut nearly 10 kilograms every single time. Lately, I’ve felt like my recovery is getting slower and I don’t feel as fresh as I should on fight day.
“The Fairtex team analyzed it and thought the weight cut might be why my chin hasn’t held up in the last two fights. I agree with them. So, this fight we decided to move up to [bantamweight] to see if less weight cutting makes me feel stronger and better at taking shots.”
The move to bantamweight brings Nakrob face-to-face with Panrit, whose aggressive forward-marching style mirrors his own approach.
Both fighters prefer trading shots in the pocket rather than fighting at range, creating the potential for explosive exchanges throughout the bout.
Nakrob said:
“I love to trade. When I found out I was matched with Panrit, I was stoked. Our styles are almost identical — we both love to come forward and be aggressive. We both rely on our hands, and honestly, we share the same weakness: we both have trouble taking big shots [laughs].”
Nakrob Promises Improved Defense In Career-Defining Moment
Nakrob Fairtex has spent three months preparing for the most important fight of his ONE Championship career.
He understands that consecutive knockout losses have damaged his reputation and standing within the organization. Another defeat, particularly at a new weight class, could significantly limit his future opportunities.
Nakrob remains the aggressive warrior who earned his contract through exciting performances, but with added layers of sophistication that should help him avoid the counterstrikes that have plagued him recently.
He promised:
“Fans can expect the same aggressive, heavy-hitting Nakrob, but with a lot more attention to detail on defense. It’s going to be a war. Neither Panrit nor I know how to back down, so someone is definitely getting dropped or knocked out. I’ve been training hard for three months straight and I’ve got a full arsenal ready. I’m coming back to get this win and make a statement.”
For Nakrob, securing a spectacular finish would accomplish multiple objectives – returning to the win column, validating the move to bantamweight, and reminding everyone why Fairtex Training Center believed in him enough to support this weight change.
Rather than worrying about rankings or future matchups, he’s focused entirely on the immediate challenge and rebuilding momentum one victory at a time.
Nakrob concluded:
“I’m not thinking about the rankings right now. My only focus is getting back into the win column. After that, it’s about staying consistent.”
