feels ready to finally defeat four-time Muay Thai World Champion when they throw down at this Friday, June 27.
The highly anticipated 140-pound Muay Thai clash will take place at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, and it gives Muangthai an opportunity to get redemption against a Thai compatriot who’s handed him four previous losses outside of ONE.
Considering each fighter’s reputation as an aggressive, forward-moving striker who consistently delivers crowd-pleasing battles, the pair’s fifth bout is .
But with these decorated stars at different stages of their respective careers, this matchup could also play out differently than the rest of their saga.
Muangthai enters on a two-fight winning streak, while Seksan, having recently suffered his first stoppage loss in ONE, is eager to prove he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
“Elbow Zombie” recently spoke to about his burning desire to finally defeat his longtime rival:
“I feel an immense hunger to win against him. And since he’s been fighting on major ONE cards, I believe that if I can beat him, I’ll get many more significant opportunities in my life.
“That makes me even more determined than for any other fight.”
The PK Saenchai representative has never shied away from acknowledging his own shortcomings.
He understands exactly why their previous battles – which were judged under traditional Muay Thai scoring and were five-round encounters – ultimately went in Seksan’s favor:
“In those fights where I lost to Seksan, they were always very close, back-and-forth battles, often decided by a slight shift in the late rounds.
“He possesses a very resilient heart. He doesn’t give up easily. And he sometimes used smarter techniques, occasionally employing clinches or throws that caused me to stumble or make mistakes, especially under traditional Muay Thai rules. That’s why I lost.”
Now a veteran of 13 fights in ONE, Muangthai thinks the switch to the organization’s three-round format could be the equalizer he needs.
He said the shorter fight time, coupled with ONE’s smaller 4-ounce gloves, will create a different situation this time around:
“I believe that in three-round fights under ONE rules, anything can happen. With the use of my weapons and my fierce fighting spirit, I believe I can succeed.”
Muangthai: ‘I Want To Build Momentum’
Muangthai PK Saenchai is coming into this contest riding a wave of momentum after rediscovering his elite form.
With back-to-back knockout wins over and , the former Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion has looked like his old self, displaying the aggressive close-range style that earned him the “Elbow Zombie” moniker.
He said his mindset and laser-focus in the training room have positioned him for success:
“The reason my form has improved is that I am very determined. When I train, I understand my responsibilities. I want to build momentum and make a name for myself once again because I did experience some losses before. Now, I feel proud that I’ve regained my form, and I am truly enjoying my fights.”
At 31 years old, Muangthai believes he now owns physical advantages over his 36-year-old rival.
The passage of time may have shifted the dynamic between these two warriors, potentially giving “Elbow Zombie” the edge he’s been searching for:
“If you compare me and Saeksan from when we first met many, many years ago – likely over a decade ago – the difference now is that I’m probably still in a phase where my body is performing at its best, but he might have aged a bit. And since we’ll be fighting with small gloves, I believe anything can happen.”
