The Inner Circle On May 22 Main Event Result: Yod-IQ Edges Kiamran Nabati In Thriller For 10th Straight Win

Thai slugger Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri made a statement in his first match as an official ONE Championship roster member, edging undefeated Russian Kiamran Nabati by split decision in the main event of The Inner Circle, which was broadcast live to subscribers at live.onefc.com, on Friday, May 22.

The PK Saenchai Muaythaigym product put Nabati right on the back foot from the opening bell of this explosive Asia primetime bantamweight Muay Thai contest in Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

He delivered hard right hands and low kicks to get things going. The Russian, meanwhile, closed the distance with right hands and left hooks and went straight into the clinch to attack with knees, but Yod-IQ defended well and capped the round with a damaging elbow.

All-out war broke out in the second as both fighters went straight into the clinch and let their elbows fly — jutting elbows, horizontal elbows, even spinning elbows streamed at each other with bad intentions. When the chaos cleared, it was Nabati who wore more damage.

The 31-year-old Archangel Michael representative turned up the pressure in the third, firing off punch combinations that forced Yod-IQ onto the back foot for the first time. But the Thai wrapped his rival up in the clinch and delivered more elbows, putting Nabati through the wringer until the final bell.

The split-decision victory was a defining moment for the 24-year-old, who capped a nine-bout winning streak last December by knocking out the only man to beat him in ONE to earn his six-figure contract.

Now with his first win on the global roster secured, Yod-IQ, who improved to 127-36 with a tenth straight triumph, has inserted himself firmly into the conversation for a crack at ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon.