The Thai great will be seeking revenge when they run it back in the main event of ONE Fight Night 31 on Saturday, 3rd May, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium, having fallen to the #3-ranked contender by a narrow split-decision at ONE Fight Night 28 last February.
That clash was Nong-O’s first in ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai division, following a lengthy tenure as bantamweight Muay Thai king.
Though the loss was tough to take, the striking veteran now feels more acclimated to his new weight bracket, and he vows to make a triumphant statement when he steps back into the ring with Kongthoranee.
“In this fight, I will definitely fight aggressively. In our first fight, I was trying to get used to [flyweight] because I hadn’t fought in this division for a long time. But now, I know I can do it,” Nong-O stated.
“I predict this fight will end with a clear result. It would be better if it ended with a knockout, not a decision, so that there would be solid evidence and no controversy later.”
Nong-O’s recent run of form hasn’t been his best, with a 1-3 record coming from his last four fights.
Many critics have made it clear they believe his best days are behind him, but the 38-year-old insists there’s plenty of fight left in him, which he hopes to showcase at ONE Fight Night 31 – regardless of the result.
“I am still confident that my destructive power is superior to his because I used to compete in heavier weight classes. I asked my trainer this question, and he said that I am faster, but my power is also still as hard as ever,” Nong-O remarked.
“I promise that this rematch won’t be the same. I want everyone to see a decisive win or loss. If I lose, it will be a loss that ends any doubts or arguments.”
