Every champion faces that moment when invincibility meets reality. For Tawanchai PK Saenchai, that reckoning came in Tokyo against Masaaki Noiri, when the Thai superstar experienced his first finish loss in ONE Championship. Now, at ONE Friday Fights 126 on September 26, the road back to two-sport greatness begins.
Inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, the ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion will test his skills against 22-year-old Chinese star Liu Mengyang in a pivotal featherweight kickboxing matchup that will determine both men’s futures.
For Tawanchai, this return to kickboxing represents more than just another fight – it’s about proving that his March setback was an anomaly rather than the beginning of a decline. The Pattaya native had looked untouchable throughout his ONE Championship career, building an impressive resume across both disciplines.
His journey toward two-sport dominance had been methodical. After claiming the Muay Thai crown from Petchmorakot Petchyindee in September 2022, Tawanchai defended it with a spectacular single-kick finish of Jamal Yusupov, then transitioned to kickboxing success.
Technical victories over Davit Kiria and Jo Nattawut showed his adaptability, while his wins over Superbon in Muay Thai seemed to confirm his championship-level versatility across disciplines.
But Noiri’s stunning finish at ONE 172 changed everything. The hometown hero did what no other fighter in ONE had accomplished, handing Tawanchai his first defeat by stoppage and claiming the interim kickboxing title.
The silence since that March night speaks volumes about Tawanchai’s approach to setbacks. Rather than making excuses or rushing back, he’s taken time to analyze what went wrong and prepare for a measured comeback.
Standing across from him will be Liu, a competitor who knows about bouncing back from disappointment. The Chinese phenom made an impressive promotional debut in December, defeating none other than Noiri by unanimous decision to announce his arrival as a legitimate contender.
Though Liu stumbled against Mohammad Siasarani via split decision in his follow-up bout, his victory over Noiri proves he possesses the skills to trouble elite competition. At just 22 years old, he represents the kind of hungry, talented opposition that can derail Tawanchai’s comeback plans.
For Tawanchai, a victory would mark his 135th career win and restart his pursuit of kickboxing gold. The Thai champion understands that two-sport glory requires excellence across both disciplines.
For Liu, the opportunity is equally significant. A victory over Tawanchai would potentially leapfrog him back into title contention and establish him as one of the division’s most promising young talents.
