The knockdown was perfect. The finish was within reach. But sometimes, the cruelest moments in combat sports arrive when victory seems certain.
Shadow Singha Mawynn had “The Eagle” Mohamed Younes Rabah hurt and wobbling in their featherweight Muay Thai co-main event at ONE Fight Night 33: Rodrigues vs. Persson.
The #3-ranked Thai contender had executed his game plan flawlessly, dropping the Algerian destroyer with a thunderous counter-punch that sent the crowd at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 11 into a frenzy.
Then came the moment that changed everything. An accidental eye poke early in the second round forced the referee to intervene, and what should have been Shadow’s statement victory became a no-contest.
He told ONEFC.com after the fight:
“When the bell rang, I initially thought I won by knockout for sure. But when the referee decided it was a no-contest, at first I felt disappointed and upset because I thought I had won the fight.”
The Thai striker’s tactical brilliance had been on full display before the unfortunate ending. In the first round, he knew Rabah would pressure and attack his legs. So he kicked back and traded blows.
His approach neutralized Rabah’s explosive arsenal, setting up the perfectly-timed counter that dropped his opponent:
“My game plan was to throw long, heavy strikes, but he’s a versatile fighter with a flying knee and reverse elbow. I needed to watch for it carefully. There was a moment where I landed a punch on his chin and got a knockdown.
“In the second round, early on, I landed a couple of kicks, and he looked a bit wobbly. His attacks started to slow down. After that, my intention was to go out and finish him in the second round. I wanted to end the fight there.”
Shadow Embraces Lessons Learned From ONE Fight Night 33 Results
Rather than dwelling on what might have been, Shadow has chosen to extract valuable lessons from his controversial debut on ONE Championship’s global stage.
The morning fight schedule, the Amazon Prime Video spotlight, the pressure of representing his country – all of it provided invaluable experience that will serve him well in future battles.
Shadow said:
“Even though my first ONE Fight Night didn’t go as I hoped, I learned so many valuable lessons. I gained a lot of knowledge that I can apply to my next fight. Having to fight in the morning for the first time in my life, I had to adjust to a lot of things. It was a brand new experience for me.”
But it’s Shadow’s response to the controversial finish that reveals his true character. Instead of bitter complaints, he’s shown remarkable sportsmanship and understanding – while making it clear he’s ready to settle the score.
The Thai striker’s confidence in his performance remains unshaken, and he believes the ONE Fight Night 33 results showed his evolution as a complete martial artist:
“If it’s fair for both sides, if he thinks my finger hit his eye, I can understand and accept the decision. I’m ready to give him a rematch. Next time, my heart will be ready.
“I personally feel that my striking was much better in this fight, but I’ll go back and improve myself even more for the next one.
“I’m sad that I couldn’t bring a victory back for the Thai people, even though everyone thinks I won. Thank you so much for that. I promise that next time I’ll bring the win for all the Thai people.”
