On ONE Friday Fight Night 22, June 23, "Babyface Killer" Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong will face American fighter Eddie Abasolo in a featherweight Muay Thai bout.
Since Sithichai signed with internationally renowned sports IP ONE Championship in 2020, fans have been expecting the multiple Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion to reach the top again. However, the competition in featherweight kickboxing was unexpectedly brutal, and Sitthichai met his old rival Superbon Singha Mawynn on his ONE debut, and eventually lost to Superbon's nimble movement and high-speed attack. The match also became a watershed moment in the duo's careers. Subobon then kicked Giorgio Petrosyan's jaw and sat on the featherweight kickboxing world title. Although Superbon was knocked out by Chingiz Allazov after defeating Marat Grigorian to defend his title, he knocked out Tayfun Ozcan "Viper" with a signature high-sweep leg in "ONE: Pinnacle Series 11" to firmly occupy the number one challenger position.
On the other hand, Sittichai did not fare well in the featherweight kickboxing ring, although he also defeated Hoskan, but only by a split decision. The victory over "The Bearded Killer" Davit Kiria finally gave Sitthichai the feeling of being a "master of control", but this victory was uneventful, more like the inevitable result of style overcoming. In the featherweight kickboxing world Grand Prix final, Alazov once again shattered Sittichai's dream of winning the ONE Kickboxing Championship with his nimble movements and precise responses. Sittichai's victory over rising star Mohammed Boutasaa cemented his third place in featherweight kickboxing, but he knew he had a better chance of winning the Muay Thai title.
In "ONE: Battle Race III", Sithichai defeats Tawanchai PK under featherweight Muay Thai rules. Saenchai）。 Tavanchai is now the featherweight Muay Thai World Champion, and although Dawanchai was not fully prepared for promotion at the time, and the difference between the two was small, Sittichai only won a disagreement decision, but this victory still gave Sitichai a place in the featherweight Muay Thai ring, ranking second in the division. A Muay Thai boxer by training, Sitthichai won the title at Lumpini Arena, and his on-court control skills work better in Muay Thai fights that emphasize heavy blows than kickboxing where fast-hitting kickboxing is important. Sittichai's return to the Lumpini Arena to fight Muay Thai rules this time, if he can defeat Abasolo, could bring him one step closer to his title dream.
Sittichai's opponent Abasolo, despite a professional record of only 14-4, showed great prowess in "ONE: Pinnacle Series 8", first cracking Niclas Larsen's eyebrows with a beautiful turning elbow and a catch-on swing, and then knocking out Larsson with a heavy punch in the second round. Abasolo hopes to make a splash against Sittichai.
For Sittichai to have a second career spring in Muay Thai, it will depend on whether he can win this crucial victory.