ONE: No Surrender Fight Diary
ONE Returns with a fun event and less bullshit - we can have good things!
On the surface, an intelligible lie; underneath, the unintelligible truth.
― Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Just under an hour away now and I am less excited about this show than I was earlier this week, but I’m still excited! I did a dumb buildup of watching Hector Echevarria movies for my main Fight Prose posts the last two weeks, so it’s like the sheer suckiness of that experience made me really excited for some super high-level kickboxing and Muay Thai, but to be honest, I’m not like a super aficionado of kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. I watch K-1 and Rise sometimes, and of course the RIZIN and ONE fights, but I’m no expert. Anyway, now that my lack of expertise is out of the way… I mean, I call myself the fucking Fight Poseur and you expect some authenticity?
Now that I think about it though, my first live combat sports experience was probably a Muay Thai fight in Thailand when I was like 10 years old. In a horribly age-inappropriate weekend jaunt my single dad took me to Pattaya and showed me the town. I don’t remember all that much, but I remember playing Connect-4 with some bar girls (hookers), going to see the Sly Stallone flick Over the Top, and Muay Thai. (Maybe there was some cockfighting in there? I’ll have to ask my dad, but he’ll probably deny it.) I’ve seen Muay Thai in Thailand a few times since, as well as some Kun Khmer in Cambodia, so nevermind, I’m totally authentic! I am a true martial artist with a warrior spirit of honor and pride. I will NEVER SURRENDER!
Panpayak Jitmuangnon vs. Superlek Kiatmoo9– Flyweight Muay Thai
Flyweight in ONE is conducted at 135, in theory to avoid the weight-cut. Blah blah blah yeah, we’ve heard all the talk that the guys DJ fought in ONE were like 5’10” 170. Nate-sized little Japanese flyweights. Not to mention Eddie’s opponent! He was like a heavyweight! (That’s sarcasm.) I was at that Nastyukhin fight and there were some American dudes in the Ryogoku Kokugikan just droning EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE in the quiet Japanese venue…. It didn’t go well for Eddie that day, but I’m really hoping we’ll get to see him complete the trilogy with Aoki before too long. (Admittedly Sage picked the wrong weight class, opponent, and career.)
That video is just so cruel… see Sage get ANNIHILATED from EVERY ANGLE!!
To the fight: apparently this is the seventh time these two guys have fought and it’s 4 - 1 - 1 for Panpayak. ONE color guy Mitch Chilson didn’t speak for almost three minutes to start the fight and I’m happy. As is Superlek who seemed to take the first round. Close second but I’ll say Panpayak on the body kicks and it’s 1 - 1. I really don’t have any idea who won that. And it’s Superlek and apparently I was confused about which guy was which.
Now it wouldn’t be ONE Championship without some Filipino sociological films, but I gotta go pee, so sorry. One production note however is I like the fact that they have a desk/studio thing with Rich Franklin and some British guy going on for this event. Less is more with Mitch and Michael Schiavello. Also seems like we have some new refs tonight, which I have to think is a good thing for ONE. Olivier Coste can seem a little too cozy with the boss.
Mark Abelardo vs. Fabricio Andrade 67 KG Catchweight MMA (147lb)
These two are basically boxing right now minus one mini-takedown. Some decent knees from Andrade, who overall seems the more polished striker. Andrade takes the first repeatedly tagging Abelardo from outside. Holy cow, the kickboxer jumps on the rear-naked choke and puts Abelardo out. Really sharp fight from the young newcomer.
Stamp Fairtex vs. Sunisa Srisen - Atomweight MMA (115lb)
Along with Angela Lee and Itsuki Hirata, Stamp Fairtex is one of ONE’s stable of talented and attractive young ladies. Stamp’s also the ONE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Atom-weight champ and is angling for the MMA title now. She has the Stamp dance which Schiavello always freaks out about.
Holy shit, these two women are 22 and 19 respectively. Anyway, Stamp should slaughter this girl. Mostly three minutes of clinch knees, before Stamp takes her down for some G&P. The ref calls it for unanswered strikes as we all knew he would.
Schiavello seems to think Stamp is going after Angela Lee, but Angela Lee will treat Stamp like Sunisa Srisen, if you get what I’m saying. Feel free to bet the house on Angela.*
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong (123 – 31) vs. Superbon (110 – 34) Featherweight KB (155lb)
So this is the first of the big fights striking people are stoked about and it will be a rubber match trilogy fight. I like the fact that they have a Thai ref. Pretty close first round as they are feeling each other out. Seems like they’re unloading a little more in the second, but it’s still damn close. Maybe 1 -1. After another close round, I’d guess Sitsongpeenong but it could really go either way. Should have been five rounds regardless. And it’s Superbon with win #111. People say the winner here will get kickboxing king Giorgio Petrosyan next.
Some inspirational messages from Chatri and the gang. Time to pee again and come back for two killer Muay Thai world championship fights.
Petchmorakot Petchyindee(c)(164 – 34 – 2) vs. Yodsanklai Fairtex (202 – 74 – 4) for the Featherweight Muay Thai world championship (155lb)
Both of these guys have fought in ONE before, so I’m on a little more on familiar ground here.
Damn I thought Petch had the first, but then Yod came on like a demon with some brutal uppercuts. Opposite thing happening in the second with Yod starting super aggressive then Petch getting busy, though it looks like he got cut with a Yod elbow. Amazingly I agree with Mitch, big third round here. Petch is a maniac just grinning at Yod’s wicked pressure, though I think he loses the round. In the fourth Petch seems like he’s trying to tie it up a lot and goofing around, as Yod slowly fades. Whoever wins the 5th wins the decision. Some lame dancing at the end there by Petch to waste time and ice the victory. That fight was a bit of the seasoned older guy can’t quite get through the younger current champ.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon(c)[263 - 42 -10 (and he’s 23)] vs. Petchdam Petchyindee (96 - 17 - 7) for the Flyweight Muay Thai world championship (135lb)
My motherfucking computer just crashed and I lost some words on this fight and the last, but I’m back in time for the big one. Long story short Rodtang the Ironman is a killer and a big personality. Another rubber match here.
Rodtang looks super relaxed as these guys kick the shit out of each other. They both grin at the bell. Petchdam lands a right to start the second and Rodtang gets pissed and pours on a little of his own. Rodtang turning it up in the second with combinations to the head and body. Petchdamn survives the third, but it was not at all a foregone conclusion. He better figure something out soon, or he’s not going to last another six minutes. Some nasty Rodtang elbows to start the 4th, but then returned. What the fuck is Mitch talking about Lord of the Flies? Is Piggy gonna die in the ring or some shit? Oh, flyweights, I get it. Might want to read the book Mitch, or at least the wiki page. Not a great allusion.** Anyway, Rodtang ultimately just too much for Petchdam and he’ll surely get the decision.
Wow, that was a fun card and it seemed like it just flew by at about two and half hours for six fights. I had planned to do a whole bit on Chatri’s new Survivor show during the dead time but there was hardly any of the normal ONE bullshit, with “Angela Lee made me want to be a doctor” videos. (There was a little bit.) Mitch was not so annoying, Schiavello was good, I like the addition of Rich and the other guy. Hopefully ONE has gotten their act together a little bit over this break and can put out some good cards with less Chatri nonsense – I just realized I didn’t hear a peep about billions of potential viewers. It’s progress!
ONE’s got a bunch more Bangkok shows lined up (the next on August 14th), so it will likely be more Muay Thai and less MMA, but that’s fine by me. Change is good! Thank you ONE Championship! Thank you Chatri Sityodtong! You are a very honorable man!
*If you are looking to make some MMA bets, you can do a lot worse than reading this bit of advice from Fight Prose Twitter pal Scott at OnlyMMAfans.com.
**Similarly, Mensa-man Luke Thomas has a recent video called A Modest Proposal and it’s got nothing to do with eating children, or is satirical, in any way.
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This was great stuff man. I am a fan now.