Danish-Moroccan Muay Thai veteran Youssef Assouik is ready to unleash a new version of himself when he returns to action at the historic Lumpinee Stadium for ONE Fight Night 34: Eersel vs. Jarvis on Prime Video.
Broadcasting live in U.S. primetime on Friday, August 1, the 30-year-old former two-division ISKA World Champion is looking to make a statement against dangerous Thai opponent Rungrawee “Legatron” Sitsongpeenong in their three-round lightweight Muay Thai battle.
Assouik made his promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 25 in October 2024, where he earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over former ONE World Title challenger Sinsamut Klinmee.
Now that the Denmark-based martial artist has grown accustomed to competing in 4-ounce gloves, he promises a more explosive showing this time around.
Assouik told onefc.com:
“This time I will change my style. I will be more aggressive. Last time, I moved a lot to check how much damage I can get from the small gloves and everything. But this time, my plan is to be a more aggressive Youssef.
“This time I will feel more confident with small gloves, because now I know it. I am really excited to be back in the ring, especially at Lumpinee in Bangkok.”
Standing in his way will be talented Thai fighter Rungrawee, a devastating striker who has built his reputation on bone-crushing leg kicks and technical precision.
The southpaw powerhouse has faced some of the biggest names in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and has earned his place among the lightweight division’s elite through several spectacular performances.
But Assouik isn’t intimidated by Rungrawee’s credentials or striking pedigree. The former WMC World Champion believes his diverse skill set will provide him with multiple paths to victory:
“To be honest, he’s not the biggest opponent I have faced. I have faced a lot of bigger names. But with small gloves, you never know what’s going to happen.
“I know he’s a southpaw. So I have to focus on his left hand and left leg. I fight in both stances. I am a southpaw, and I’m orthodox. So I can fight him southpaw against southpaw or orthodox against southpaw. I’m ready for everything.”
Assouik Hunting World Title Shot In Historic Lumpinee Stadium
For Youssef Assouik, this contest represents far more than just his second appearance in ONE.
He understands that an impressive victory over a proven veteran like Rungrawee could position him perfectly for a shot at the coveted ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title.
With reigning lightweight Muay Thai king Regian “The Immortal” Eersel set to defend his crown against George “G-Unit” Jarvis in the evening’s headlining bout, Assouik knows that all eyes will be on the lightweight division’s top contenders.
A dominant performance against “Legatron” would send a clear message to both the champion and the rest of the division that he’s ready for a crack at the gold:
“I’m looking forward to facing Rungrawee. I’m going to show fans all over the world why I belong at the top of the division, and I hope the next step is going to be the belt. I want the belt. I am ready for everyone because I want the belt.”
This fight also holds special significance for the Danish-Moroccan warrior due to its venue. With aspirations of World Championship glory on his mind, Assouik is excited to return to Lumpinee Stadium, widely regarded as the “Mecca of Muay Thai.”
The 30-year-old has dedicated his life to perfecting his craft and he says competing in such a hallowed arena will always be a huge honor:
“This moment is interesting for me because I have trained and fought Muay Thai all my life. So for me, fighting at Lumpinee makes a lot of emotions for me. I am really thankful I can be there, and not just see it, but be in the ring and fight. This is an amazing feeling.”
