- ONE Friday Fights 120 had all the makings of a classic
- Yodlekpet edges Pompet in Fight Of The Year contender
- India's Khatri lost to Hirata of Japan via unanimous decision
ONE Championship delivered another fantastic event on August 15, where nearly two dozen hopefuls took to Lumpinee Stadium for a shot at a life-changing US$100,000 contract with the promotion.
Airing live in Asia primetime, ONE Friday Fights 120 had all the makings of another classic. Promotional mainstays returned to the win column, new faces emerged as serious contenders, and two of Thailand’s hardest hitters delivered a main event that will be remembered for years to come.
Here’s what went down in Bangkok, Thailand, this past Friday night.
Yodlekpet Edges Pompet In Fight Of The Year Contender
Yodlekpet “The Destroyer” Or Atchariya and Pompet Panthonggym threw down in an instant classic in the main event – and even the judges had a hard time deciding a definitive winner.
Slowly, methodically, both Thai warriors stood in the middle of the ring and traded punches and elbows in round one. Neither inched ahead on the scorecards, neither fell behind. It was a calculated approach that contrasted the wild two rounds that followed.
By the second frame, Yodlekpet, a four-time Muay Thai World Champion fell back on his trademark attacks – elbows hidden behind punches. Some hit their target, some didn’t. But either way, Pompet was always there, piercing through his foe’s defense with uppercuts and hooks.
With two rounds down and one left, the fight swung in the balance and both men went for it.
The Sor Sommai athlete muscled past Pompet’s punches and swung as if the clock was always down to its last second. Pompet matched his compatriot’s energy, battering his face until “The Destroyer” was hidden behind a crimson mask.
When it was all said and done, Yodlekpet narrowly escaped with the split-decision victory, moving his record to 92-38.
Delval Earns Third-Round TKO Over Aslan In Featured Bout
Brice Delval finally secured his first win in ONE, a win he had been chasing since coming up short against Nong-O Hama for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title in 2019.
Delval bagged the elusive victory after knocking down Mert Aslan three times en route to a third-round TKO in their 148-pound Muay Thai featured bout.
From the onset, the Algerian pumped his jab in Aslan’s face and followed up with walloping straight right punches. During the fracas, he opened a cut on his barrel-chested rival’s face, only to aggravate it with his solid right fist.
Delval’s right hand went from aggravating to downright menacing as the fight wore on. He used it to put Aslan on his bottom for the first time in round three. The Turkish fighter beat the eight-count, then moments later he was right back on the canvas, pulling himself to his feet after another right hand landed.
A clipping left hook from the Mahmoudi Gym man then floored Aslan for a third and final time, as the referee jumped in to call off the action and Delval celebrated in jubilation. With the victory, he improved to 35-9 in the all striking arts.
Gingsanglek, Wuttikrai, Ishii, And Hirata Dominate In Lead Up To ONE Friday Fights 120 Main Event
In the flyweight Muay Thai co-main event, Thailand’s Gingsanglek Wor Kumchamnarn finished Thant Zin by TKO in the first round. Meanwhile, Wuttikrai Wor Chakrawut hammered Mohamed Taoufyq into the canvas three times in round one to score the TKO win in another explosive flyweight Muay Thai fixture.
Before that, in 120-pound Muay Thai action, Jurai Ishii of Japan defeated Har Ling Om via a head-kick knockout in round three of their thrilling war inside the Mecca of Muay Thai.
Before that, already-contracted Japanese star Itsuki “Android 18” Hirata returned to the win column with a powerful unanimous decision over previously undefeated Arti Khatri in their atomweight MMA bout.
ONE Friday Fights 120 Quick Results
- Yodlekpet Or Atchariya defeats Pompet Panthonggym via split decision (Muay Thai – Flyweight)
- Gingsanglek Wor Kumchamnarn defeats Thant Zin via TKO at 1:11 of round one (Muay Thai – Flyweight)
- Wuttikrai Wor Chakrawut defeats Mohamed Taoufyq via TKO at 1:26 of round one (Muay Thai – Flyweight)
- Khasan Salomov defeats Brazil Aekmuangnon via split decision (Muay Thai – 126 lbs)
- Khusen Salomov defeats Rocky Kangaroo Muaythai via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – 130 lbs)
- Yodanucha Por Prajansi defeats Jaoinsee PK Saenchai via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – 120 lbs)
- Brice Delval defeats Mert Aslan via TKO at 2:09 of round three (Muay Thai – 148 lbs)
- Omar El Halabi defeats Soe Naung Oo via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – 128 lbs)
- Jurai Ishii defeats Har Ling Om via knockout at 2:16 of round three (Muay Thai – 120 lbs)
- Gump defeats Zhang Haiyang via unanimous decision (kickboxing – 138 lbs)
- Sardor Karimboev defeats Jang Seon Gyu via split decision (MMA – Flyweight)
- Itsuki Hirata defeats Arti Khatri via unanimous decision (MMA – Atomweight)
