Khunsuk Knocks Out YodUdon, Earns 350,000 Baht Bonus and Moves Closer to ONE Contract

Friday, September 30, was eventful at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. ONE Friday Fights 176 and The Inner Circle 36 featured knockouts, close decisions, and standout performances, but it was Khunsuk T1 Fight Academy who stole the show. In the main event of the weekly card, he knocked out YodUdon K Tongtalingchan at 2:59 of the second round.

The atomweight Muay Thai bout began with a flurry of kicks. Khunsuk found an opening to land a straight right and also connected with a high kick.

In the second round, the tide turned. Khunsuk focused on body kicks and punches, targeting a weakness he had identified in YodUdon's defense.

The strategy paid off. YodUdon was dropped after a series of body shots and received an eight-count. A final body shot ended the fight at the close of the round.

In addition to the victory, Khunsuk pocketed a bonus of 350,000 baht, marking his seventh win by stoppage in ONE's weekly series. At just 22 years old, with a record of 59-18, he has secured three victories in his last four fights and is now closer to a $100,000 contract with the organization's main roster.

The significance of the result was heightened by what transpired outside the ring. After the fight, Khunsuk revealed that he had been away from the ring for nearly seven months. During that time, the T1 Fight Academy camp was affected by flooding, forcing him to train at S.Chokmeechai camp.

He underwent four to five months of preparation, which included battling an illness. Nevertheless, he arrived at Lumpinee with a game plan: he studied videos of YodUdon and knew that his opponent's body defense was a vulnerability.

In the co-main event of ONE Friday Fights 176, Sitthichai Sor Dechapan faced newcomer Arthur Evan in a flyweight Muay Thai clash, winning with a high kick at 2:56 of the second round. With a record of 69-27, Sitthichai also left Lumpinee with a bonus of 350,000 baht.

Not all results were met with the same calm. Caviar Pudprachachuen edged out Klapichit K Tongtalingchan by split decision (2-1), a result that divided fans on social media.

The card also highlighted MMA action. Pedro Duarte defeated Ethan Brockett by TKO at 2:33 of the first round but missed out on a bonus after failing to make weight (162.2 pounds).

Among other results from ONE Friday Fights 176, Adham Ruziev knocked out Denchailek Sor Dechapan at 1:15 of the first round in a Muay Thai bout. Oga Akita won against Prashanth Guda by TKO in the first round in MMA, while Yumeto Mizuno defeated Nihad Taghizade by TKO in the second round in a kickboxing match.

Akram Hamidi, a three-time ISKA world kickboxing champion, made his atomweight debut against Numsurin Chor Ketwina, a former ONE title challenger, and needed just 1:57 to knock him out in the main event of The Inner Circle 36.

The fight featured teeps, a spinning backfist, a knockdown from a body shot, and two left hooks to the liver. Hamidi, who boasts a record of 56-6, is a name to watch in the race for the title held by Nadaka Yoshinari. His debut had a notable detail on the scale: he weighed in at 119.6 pounds, above the limit, and accepted a compensation agreement.

Also at The Inner Circle 36, Xavier Gonzalez knocked out Exza Wankhongohm at 1:18 of the first round in a flyweight Muay Thai bout. Yassir Rassafi also scored a first-round knockout against TomYamGoong, a result previously reported here.

Sources: ONE Championship (onefc.com), Mr. Pong (Facebook), Muay Siam (Facebook), and @muaythairesults.