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On the finish of Phai Ngoen Alley close to Bangkok’s upscale Sathorn district is PK.Saenchai Muaythaigym, which is dwelling to a few of ONE Championship’s high strikers together with ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai, #2-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender Rodlek, and #4-ranked Tawanchai.
After which there’s Pongsiri. The Thai doesn’t at the moment sit within the top-five rankings like his fellow teammates, however he may enter them with a win at ONE: NEXTGEN III on Friday, 26 November.
That evening, he squares off in opposition to #5-ranked Alaverdi “Babyface Killer” Ramazanov in a ONE Tremendous Sequence Muay Thai bantamweight showdown, which is able to function the co-main occasion.
“I’ve been coaching [hard],” Pongsiri says. “My physique is sort of excellent.”
Towards Ramazanov, he’ll have to be.
The Russian is a former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion who’s combating for the primary time since dropping his strap this previous January.
Ramazanov owns a 61-6 skilled file and holds wins over the likes of Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy – who coincidentally defeated Pongsiri in February 2020 to seize the inaugural ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title.
However that was a unique time, and a unique weight class, for Pongsiri.
Since then, the PK.Saenchai Muaythaigym standout dropped to bantamweight – a extra becoming division for the stocky brawler – and shook up the burden class with an exciting efficiency in opposition to Sean “Clubber” Clancy.
“That battle was thrilling and spectacular. It wasn’t simple in any respect, but it surely wasn’t too arduous both,” says Pongsiri, who holds an astonishing 154-34-11 profession file.
“Preventing in [the bantamweight division], I contemplate this a very good weight class. It’s a very good match for me. The opponents aren’t a lot larger than me.”
When Pongsiri first entered ONE, he competed at featherweight, which introduced many challenges for the Thai, who usually discovered himself the shorter man contained in the Circle.
On the heavier weight class, he was at all times up in opposition to taller and extra highly effective opponents. And with a blindingly wild fashion like his, it was too arduous to defend in opposition to the larger males’s weapons within the pocket, a spot the place he likes to nestle into within the thick of the battle.
Now at bantamweight, Pongsiri can play a extra strategic recreation along with his normal aggressive method.
With that mentioned, the Thai has stored an in depth eye on Ramazanov, one other tall and highly effective foe with the energy to dominate the motion. However this time, Pongsiri believes he has it found out.
“I watched his newest battle the place he received knocked out by Capitan. Then, I discovered that I ought to do one thing to his decrease physique – stroll ahead quick and [throw a] low kick,” the 31-year-old Thai says.
“I’ll fuel him out and injury him as a lot as doable, and I’ll rise up shut on him shortly.”
Harmful phrases from a person who fights like he’s been doused with water after midnight. However that’s Pongsiri’s recreation, as he admits when rattling off his best attributes.
“My weapons are my energy, endurance, craziness, and aggressiveness. These are my benefits for this battle. This stuff will carry me to victory. I can’t surrender,” he says.
“It could be nice if I defeat him by knockout. I hope the match will likely be thrilling and entertaining as properly.”
Coming from a health club that produces a number of the most entertaining athletes in ONE, whether or not they be poised like Prajanchai, tacticians like Tawanchai, or ruffians like Rodlek, followers can anticipate Pongsiri to placed on a showstopping efficiency as soon as once more when he steps contained in the Circle.
Nevertheless, entertaining ONE Tremendous Sequence followers is simply half the mission for Pongsiri. The opposite half is eliminating Ramazanov from the bantamweight Muay Thai high 5, so he can squeeze into the combo.
“My objective is similar as different fighters – eager to be a champion. However I’ve to climb up the rankings. If my efficiency is nice, I wish to earn a shot on the title,” the Thai says.
“However I need to win this battle to get a step nearer to my objective of going from being the challenger to being the champion.”
Learn extra: Ramazanov Charged Up For Muay Thai Return Towards Pongsiri
