Former longtime ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion Nong-O Hama will square off with No. 3-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Kongthoranee Sor Sommai on Saturday, May 3, in a contest where both men have a distinctive point to prove.
The much-anticipated rematch follows their nail-biting first clash this past February at ONE Fight Night 28.
After a tumultuous close to a fabled bantamweight run that saw him win the World Title and defend it seven times, Nong-O dropped down to flyweight in an attempt to replicate success.
Given the Thais’ respective repertoires, fans were expecting a fast and furious pace for as long as the battle lasted, and both men gave them just that in a technical three-round war.
Ultimately, Kongthoranee’s body of work throughout the nine minutes of action impressed the judges more, so they awarded him the split-decision win and the biggest scalp of his career thus far.
However, not everyone saw it that way. One of those parties was ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, who believed Nong-O had won the day. As such, the idea of a rematch was immediately thrown into the ring.
At ONE Fight Night 31, Kongthorane will have the chance to disprove any theories that his victory last time out was a matter of luck. And if he can go 2-0 against his legendary compatriot, he’ll undoubtedly strengthen his bid for a shot at the vacant ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title.
Meanwhile, Nong-O is determined to exact revenge against his younger counterpart. He wants to show the world that there is still plenty in the tank and position himself as a contender in his new bracket.
The headline attraction joins a previously announced co-main event that will see ONE welterweight submission grappling world champion Tye Ruotolo defending his gold against surging Canadian star Dante Leon.
