Bampara Kouyate Vs Shadow Singha Mawynn: 'It's A Chess Game, It’s Always The Same' - Bambi

For #2-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender Bampara Kouyate, the next time he steps into the ONE Championship ring will be a chance to prove his worth as a fighter deserving of a World Title opportunity against reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai.

The Malian-French sensation faces surging Thai powerhouse and #3-ranked contender Shadow Singha Mawynn in a pivotal three-round clash at ONE Fight Night 35: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger on Prime Video, which takes place live in U.S. primetime on Friday, September 5, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kouyate’s path to World Championship glory runs directly through Shadow, a 25-year-old Thai dynamo who has gone 5-1 against elite competition in the world’s largest martial arts organization. 

The former Rajadamnern Stadium World Title holder brings over 90 professional fights’ worth of experience and devastating knockout power to their encounter.

“Bambi” knows he’s going up against one of the toughest tests of his ONE career, but he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to claim victory. The former WMC European Muay Thai Champion shared:

“He’s a very strong fighter. He has strong kicks, good hands, also. He’s very powerful. He’s going forward. He’s a technical fighter. He’s a good fighter. He’s top three in ONE Championship, so obviously he’s a good fighter. Everyone in the division is good.”

Kouyate turned a lot of heads at ONE 170 this past January, where he delivered a statement-making TKO over former World Title challenger “Smokin” Jo Nattawut in the first round.

Prior to that career-building victory, the Team Mehdi Zatout standout also defied the odds with a come-from-behind finish of highly touted American striker Luke “The Chef” Lessei at ONE Fight Night 23 in July 2024.

But success hasn’t bred complacency for the driven Kouyate. His calm demeanor in the ring masks intense preparation he has been putting together behind closed doors.

Knowing what this next fight means for his dreams of a World Title, the Malian-Frenchman is leaving nothing to chance against a formidable foe.

“Bambi” added: 

“We never know with fights. It depends on a lot of things. All fights are different. But Shadow is a challenging fighter, that’s for sure. It’s gonna be a demanding fight. That’s why I had a very hard fight camp. I’m ready.”

Kouyate Says Game Plan Is Essential To Beating Shadow

Fueled by his lofty ambitions, Bampara Kouyate enters the “Mecca of Muay Thai” as a man with his World Title dreams well within reach. The 30-year-old can feel the gold nearly in his grasp.

But beyond his physical preparation for combat, Kouyate knows that coming into this fight with a solid strategy for victory is even more important.

A fighter and a fashion model, Kouyate has always approached fighting with calculated precision and the unmistakable flair of an artist. His tall, rangy frame and devastating high kicks, coupled with his sound fight IQ are what truly sets him apart.

Kouyate understands that success on the elite stage requires more than just physical capabilities. For the former French National Muay Thai Champion, every bout represents an intricate puzzle to be solved.

“Bambi” explained his cerebral approach to fighting:

“I’m gonna adapt my style to his style. That’s a goal of the fight camp.

“Fight camp and the fight is always like a chess game. For sure, for him, it’s gonna be the same. He’s gonna try to work on my weakness, and I’m gonna try to work on his weakness. So it’s a chess game, it’s always the same. We all have weaknesses, we all have advantages.”

Coming in hot behind back-to-back stoppage victories over top-flight competition, Kouyate takes pride in his complete fighting arsenal and he fully expects his hands to be raised in victory once again over Shadow.

For the Malian-French knockout artist, a shot at the gold may be close. He just needs to take care of business one more time against a dangerous Thai opponent who will be looking to take his spot in the stacked division.

The #2-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender concluded:

“Actually, I don’t know, but I think I can stop him or win by unanimous decision.

“In Muay Thai, you have a lot of techniques, so it could be elbows, could be punches, could be leg kicks, a lot of things.”

Source