‘All Worth It’ – Suakim Turns Past Pain Into Unstoppable Power Ahead Of ONE Fight Night 34

Suakim Sor Jor Tongprajin has experienced the highs and lows of Muay Thai in ways few athletes ever will. From financial ruin to emotional burnout, the 29-year-old Thai veteran nearly walked away from the sport for good – but now, he’s stepping into the biggest spotlight of his career.

On Friday, August 1, the Thai striking sensation will return to Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium for a bantamweight Muay Thai clash against Turkish standout Zafer Sayik at ONE Fight Night 34: Eersel vs. Jarvis on Prime Video.

This will be Suakim’s first appearance on a U.S. primetime card following a long, grueling road through the ONE Friday Fights weekly spectacle. For him, it’s a shot at redemption after years of hardship, both inside and outside the ring.

Before joining the world’s largest martial arts organization, Suakim was already a decorated competitor with three Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Titles and nearly 150 career wins. But by the end of 2019, his fire to compete had fizzled out. He walked away from the sport, his debts piled up, and at one point, he was living in other people’s homes.

Everything changed in 2023 when ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong personally asked him to compete at ONE Friday Fights.

Suakim recalled:

“The turning point was when Boss Chatri invited me to join ONE, asking me to come back and fight. At that time, I was really lost, didn’t know what to do, and things were going wrong for me. So, I decided to come back and fight.”

That return, however, didn’t go as planned. Suakim suffered a knockout loss to Kirill Khomutov at ONE Friday Fights 26.

The near-fatal blow almost pushed him back into retirement, but he decided to return to the gym, regroup, and come back better than ever.

He said:

“That first fight, I just felt so discouraged. Not completely hopeless, but really disheartened. I thought, ‘Maybe this is it. Maybe I’m too old to fight.’

“But my boss, my gym, the promoter, and my fans believed in me. So, I decided to keep going.”

And he did.

Suakim battled back with five impressive victories in the weekly event series, including a knockout of Komawut FA Group at ONE Friday Fights 100. That impressive stoppage earned him a life-changing US$100,000 main roster contract with ONE.

Along the way he rebutted the doubters, repaid what he owed, and rebuilt his life one elbow at a time.

“Fighting in ONE [Friday Fights] has changed my life significantly. Before, I had nearly a million baht in debt — but now, it’s all gone. I used to live at other people’s houses. Now I rent my own place. I even bought a car. All my debts are cleared.

“As a fighter who almost quit, getting this ONE contract feels beyond my wildest dreams.”

Suakim Gunning For Knockout Win Against Zafer Sayik

While Lumpinee Stadium is familiar ground, Suakim Sor Jor Tongprajin knows the stakes are higher than ever at ONE Fight Night 34. He’s no longer just fighting to survive. This time, he’s aiming to thrive on the global stage.

Opposite him stands Zafer Sayik, a dangerous Turkish striker with 13 national and European kickboxing titles and a reputation for heavy hands. In fact, Sayik’s power and pressure-heavy style make him a legitimate threat.

To prepare, Suakim has pushed himself harder than ever, training at PK Saenchai Muaythaigym alongside elite teammates like reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai and two-sport king Prajanchai PK Saenchai.

He said:

“My preparation for ONE Fight Night 34 is much harder than before. I’m more determined than ever because it’s a big show. I want to win my [U.S. primetime] debut fight.

“Training with champions like Tawanchai and Prajanchai gives me motivation. I watch how they work, and I want to follow in their footsteps. Maybe I don’t have to be a champion, but I want to reach that level.”

Suakim believes his best tools – sharp punches and slicing elbows – will be the key to victory. They’ve brought him this far, and now he plans to let them speak under the bright lights of U.S. primetime.

While the crowd will see a polished athlete, only Suakim knows the cost of this moment. And he has one simple message:

“I’m about to fight at ONE Fight Night 34, and I feel incredibly proud of myself. I’m happy to represent ONE. All the effort I’ve put in over the past two years is all worth it.

“I’m hungry to win by knockout.”

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