Legendary Run: Recapping Nong-O’s Epic Muay Thai World Title Reign In ONE Championship
Thai icon Nong-O Hama is undeniably one of the most dominant titleholders to ever compete in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
On May 2 in U.S. primetime, the former long-reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion will return for his second appearance at flyweight and seek revenge against #3-ranked contender Kongthoranee Sor Sommai in the main event of ONE Fight Night 31 on Prime Video.
Set to go down at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, that high-stakes matchup is expected to deliver the same fast-paced, technical action as their first encounter.
Before the 38-year-old runs it back with Kongthoranee, we recap his legendary eight-fight ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title run that cemented him as an all-time great.
Outclasses Han Zi Hao
After dominating his first two fights in ONE Championship, Nong-O squared off with dangerous striker Han Zi Hao for the inaugural ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title in February 2019 at ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS.
Han had rattled off four straight wins, including a pair of sensational knockouts, to begin his ONE tenure, but Nong-O would quickly derail the Chinese standout’s hype train.
The Thai employed his thunderous kicking game and a picture-perfect straight right hand to outpoint Han en route to a clear-cut decision victory, thus kick-starting a lengthy stay atop the talent-packed bantamweight Muay Thai division.
Dominates Hiroaki Suzuki
The newly crowned titleholder returned just a few months later to defend his gold against Shoot Boxing World Champion Hiroaki “Kaibutsukun” Suzuki.
In a beautiful display of kicking power and prowess, Nong-O consistently found a home for his right kick, hammering the Japanese fighter with soul-stealing shots to his legs, body, and arms over the course of five brutal rounds.
With the unanimous decision win, Nong-O sent a terrifying message to the rest of the division – his World Title reign was only just beginning.
Digs Deep Against Brice Delval
In September 2019 at ONE: IMMORTAL TRIUMPH, Nong-O put his gold on the line against young Algerian phenom Brice “The Truck” Delval – a man many thought had the skills to dethrone the champ.
Indeed, the 20-year-old challenger gave the veteran all he could handle and pushed him to the absolute limit in what would be the most difficult victory of Nong-O’s World Title reign.
The World Champion was forced to dig deep and lean heavily on his elite fight IQ, as he narrowly edged “The Truck” in a frantic firefight. While Nong-O’s kicks were yet again his most effective weapon, it was his championship mindset and toughness that most impressed ONE’s global fan base.
Flatlines Saemapetch
Two months after that, Nong-O took on decorated Thai fan favorite Saemapetch Fairtex and scored the first of five straight knockout wins.
The bantamweight Muay Thai king racked up big damage with his venomous boxing attack early, scoring a pair of knockdowns in the second frame. The finish came midway through the fourth round thanks to a show-stopping straight right hand that sent Saemapetch crumbling to the canvas.
That knockout remains one of the best in Nong-O’s incredible highlight reel and further solidified him as a Muay Thai icon.
Brutalizes Rodlek
Just over a year later, the Thai superstar returned against ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament winner Rodlek PK Saenchai. Despite his time away, Nong-O looked to be in peak form and still loaded with momentum.
Well aware of his foe’s dangerous counter-striking abilities, the titleholder spent the early going carefully measuring the distance and gathering information.
In the third round, he turned up the aggression and unleashed furious punching combinations before landing his trademark straight right hand that sent Rodlek down and out for the count.
Demolishes Felipe Lobo
Firmly established as a pound-for-pound great, Nong-O next battled surging Brazilian destroyer Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo in March 2022 at the historic ONE X.
Loaded with confidence and bravado, Nong-O picked apart Lobo with crippling leg kicks and crispy boxing throughout the contest’s opening two rounds before finding the knockout in the third with a concussive right uppercut.
By this point, few in the world doubted Nong-O’s incredible striking skills, and his third straight one-punch knockout cemented him among Muay Thai’s hardest punchers.
Cripples Liam Harrison
In August 2022, fans were treated to a dream matchup when the Thai put his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title on the line against beloved British brawler Liam “Hitman” Harrison at ONE on Prime Video 1.
After spending the previous few years decimating opponents with his punches, it was Nong-O’s savage leg kicks that finished Harrison inside of one round.
In a stunning display of power and timing, he needed just a handful of heavy kicks to “Hitman’s” lead leg before the Brit fell to the ground, unable to stand on his battered limb.
Overwhelms Alaverdi Ramazanov
In January 2023, in the very first edition of ONE Friday Fights, Nong-O defended his bantamweight Muay Thai gold against former ONE World Champion Alaverdi “Babyface Killer” Ramazanov.
Fighting in front of a partisan Bangkok crowd, the titleholder slowed his adversary’s movement with huge leg kicks and a thudding right hand early. He continued to pour on the pressure and aggression until, in the fourth round, he unloaded a ruthless combination punctuated by a massive body shot that put Ramazanov down and out.
That unforgettable finish marked Nong-O’s eighth straight World Title victory, his fifth consecutive knockout, and erased any doubts that he will forever be remembered as one of the best Muay Thai fighters to ever step foot in a ring.
