Nontachai Jitmuangnon believes his natural size advantage will be the difference-maker when he steps into the ring against a surging knockout artist this Friday, July 11.
The 26-year-old Thai striker will attempt to extend his flawless ONE Championship run when he meets #5-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender Abdulla Dayakaev in a featherweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE Fight Night 33: Rodrigues vs. Persson, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Jitmuangnon Gym product acknowledges the threat posed by the Dagestani striker, who has bulldozed his way through the bantamweight division with devastating knockout power.
But the Muay Thai tactician sees a clear path to victory against an opponent who is moving up a weight class and entering uncharted territory.
Nontachai said:
“For this fight, I’m matched against Abdulla, and he’s definitely a formidable opponent. However, he’s moving up to fight at 155 pounds, which is my natural weight class, so I don’t expect any problems.
“The area where he’s not as strong is fighting at long range. I’ll need to jab and use my counter-kicks to prevent his punches from reaching me. Facing a kicker like me should be right up my alley.”
The technical striker from Chumphon province believes his well-rounded skill set will expose weaknesses in Dayakaev’s aggressive style.
Known for his damaging right kick and ability to control the distance, Nontachai plans to use his full arsenal against the Dagestani, who has collected a fistful of highlight-reel finishes in seven promotional wins.
The Jitmuangnon Gym representative offered:
“Abdulla has five knockout wins, but I think if I can block his punches, it shouldn’t be a problem. Personally, I believe his dangerous punches are his only real threat.
“My well-rounded Muay Thai skills should give me an edge because he has more of a Russian style, just punches and leg kicks.”
Nontachai Reflects On Learning Experience After ONE Fight Night Debut
Nontachai Jitmuangnon’s last performance on the global stage provided valuable lessons. After winning the Road to ONE Thailand tournament in 2023 and rattling off a pair of victories at ONE Friday Fights in 2024, the Thai made his highly anticipated U.S. primetime debut against American sensation Arian Esparza this past March.
Despite earning a unanimous decision win, Nontachai admitted the magnitude of the moment initially affected his performance in the opening stages of the battle.
He said:
“For my recent [U.S. primetime] debut at ONE Fight Night 29, I was super excited. When I walked into the ring, I felt a bit stiff and wasn’t sure how to throw my attacks. The crowd was really loud. I had to close my eyes and meditate for a moment before the fight to calm myself down.
“I’d give myself a seven or eight out of 10. My main weakness from that last fight was defending punches because I took quite a few hits from my opponent, but I’ve learned from those mistakes and improved a lot.”
Despite studying Esparza’s style and preparing for his punches with counter-kicks, Nontachai admits that he never pushed himself out of his comfort zone.
The self-critical perfectionist might have given himself a modest assessment of his last performance, acknowledging where he could’ve improved while demonstrating the mindset that has fueled his eight-fight winning streak. But now, he plans to show the world his renewed mental state and the skills he’s been practicing to score his fourth straight victory in ONE.
Nontachai said:
“For this fight, I’ve added elbows to my arsenal. If he comes in loosely, I’ll be ready to cut him up with elbows.”
