‘This Is Just The Beginning’ – Mohammad Siasarani Details Jo Nattawut Knockout, Shares Goals For 2026 And Beyond
Mohammad Siasarani had been chasing this dream for nearly two years, and at ONE Friday Fights 137 last month, he finally made it a reality.
The Iranian striker delivered when it mattered most, knocking out former ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title challenger “Smokin” Jo Nattawut to earn a six-figure contract with ONE Championship and a coveted spot on the promotion’s global roster.
But the 23-year-old admits the path to victory wasn’t straightforward. Facing one of Thailand’s most powerful knockout artists, Siasarani had to overcome early adversity before producing the stoppage win that changed his life forever.
Nattawut had the edge in the opening stanza, as he tagged Siasarani – a WBC Muay Thai World Champion – with a left hook that momentarily rocked him. The Iranian southpaw quickly regained his senses and finished the frame on better footing by firing punches, head kicks, and even some clinch knees.
When Siasarani returned to his corner, head coach and former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title challenger Mehdi Zatout encouraged him to make some critical adjustments that would turn the tide.
The Iranian said:
“In the first round, I admit I misjudged the distance a bit, which led to me getting hit and being slightly dazed. But when I got back to the corner, my coach told me to change my guard and focus more on my punches. When I entered the second round, I immediately changed my plan, pressing forward with punches until I was able to knock him out.”
Those adjustments paid immediate dividends. Siasarani’s defense was stronger, he managed the range much better, and soon, he started to pressure his Thai rival.
And then, as the midway point of the second frame approached, Zatout’s protege struck. The Iranian darted forward with a jab and then launched an overhand right to the chin that sent Nattawut crashing to the canvas. The Thai powerhouse couldn’t beat the count, forcing the referee to wave off the action at the 1:39 mark of round two.
That match-ending punch was one Siasarani practiced countless times at Venum Training Camp in Pattaya, Thailand, and when the moment arrived, muscle memory took over.
He said:
“I drilled this right hand with my coach all the time. Anyone who watches my training footage will see that I’m very good with this punch. Even when I got the knockout, I did the same thing. And the moment that punch connected with Jo’s face, I could see in his eyes that he wouldn’t be able to get up and continue fighting.”
The knockout was impressive enough, but what came next made the evening truly unforgettable.
As Siasarani celebrated his victory, commentator Mitch Chilson entered the ring to deliver the news that the Iranian had been dreaming about since his first ONE Friday Fights appearance in January 2023 – he had earned a US$100,000 contract with ONE Championship.
For the Team Mehdi Zatout representative, it was the culmination of years of hard work:
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. My whole team, family, and everyone around me have been waiting for this. I’m so happy to have accomplished this, and this is just the beginning of my journey in this major promotion.”
Siasarani Eyeing Big Shows, Wants Superbon’s Kickboxing Belt
Mohammad Siasarani enters 2026 as the newest member of ONE Championship’s global roster, and he already has huge goals in mind.
The Iranian striker has spent the majority of the past two years competing at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, building an impressive resume that includes victories over seven-time World Champion Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, Enfusion Champion Mohammed Boutasaa, SHOOT Boxing Champion Kaito Ono, and Chinese standout Liu Mengyang.
Now, with his promotional contract secured, Siasarani is eager to venture beyond Thailand and chase even bigger opportunities on the global stage.
He said:
“This contract means so much to my life. It will make me more well-known, and my dream is to fight overseas, whether in Japan or Qatar. My ultimate goal is to become the best pound-for-pound fighter in the featherweight division.”
That’s an ambitious target, but Siasarani is undaunted by the world-class strikers competing in ONE Championship’s featherweight Muay Thai and kickboxing divisions.
The weight class is teeming with elite talent, including reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon, former interim king and K-1 Champion Masaaki Noiri, three-time Glory World Champion Marat Grigorian, WMC World Champion Bampara Kouyate, WBC Muay Thai European Champion Nico Carrillo, and three-time K-1 Champion Rukiya Anpo.
Siasarani is ready to test himself against all those respected names, and he’s particularly interested in pursuing Superbon’s kickboxing gold. However, there’s one titleholder he has no intention of challenging – reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai, whom he considers a dear friend.
The Iranian brawler said:
“I’m ready to face anyone in the featherweight division. As for Tawanchai, he’s like a big brother that I really respect, so I want to focus on hunting the kickboxing belt first. After that, we can talk about the Muay Thai belt.”
