News
Ben Coate
Dec 3, 2024
‘It Will Be A Barnburner’ – Kongthoranee And Nakrob Preview Key Muay Thai Clash At ONE Fight Night 26
Two of Thailand’s most talented strikers are set to collide on December 6 in U.S. primetime at ONE Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov on Prime Video.
Former two-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kongthoranee Sor Sommai will square off with #4-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Nakrob Fairtex in an all-action matchup with big implications for the division.
Before these two flyweight Muay Thai standouts throw down at the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, they spoke to onefc.com about this can’t-miss bout.
Kongthoranee Targets Spot In Top-Five Rankings
Kongthoranee boasts a near-flawless 9-2 record in the world’s largest martial arts organization, having employed his crispy counter-striking, elite fight IQ, and stunning power to cement himself as one of the division’s most dangerous athletes.
Against Nakrob, he’ll be facing a similarly successful opponent, as the Fairtex Training Center representative has lost just one of his 10 fights in ONE.
But while both men have enjoyed a similar trajectory in their respective ONE tenures, Kongthoranee is quick to point out that, stylistically speaking, they are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
The 28-year-old broke down the key dynamics of this all-Thai showdown:
“Nakrob is a fighter who likes to walk forward. He is brave and bold and not shy of taking risks. I personally like this style. If he walks forward to trade with me, he may get countered because I am a high-IQ fighter. I think it will be a barnburner. Nakrob should walk to me, and I’ll wait for a chance to counter when he attacks. In this fight, if anyone makes a mistake, there is a high chance that the fight will not go to distance.”
Indeed, the bout pits a master counter-striker against a fearless pressure fighter – a recipe for fireworks. It could also help lead one of these fighters to a coveted World Title shot.
Just like every other athlete in the division, Kongthoranee is gunning for 26 pounds of gold. A victory over the #4-ranked contender, he said, would be one more step on his climb to the top:
“If I can defeat Nakrob in this fight, I might enter the rankings. This fight is another important fight for me. I’m trying to win because I want to become the World Champion. To become the champion, I have to get into the rankings first.”
Nakrob Braces For Tough Test
For his part, Nakrob Fairtex isn’t looking to become a stepping stone for Kongthoranee Sor Sommai.
The 26-year-old has worked tirelessly to crack the top-five rankings, and he’s prepared to fight tooth and nail to defend his spot:
“This is my second fight in U.S. primetime. It’s very important to me because I’ve struggled a lot and come a long way to get to this position. So, I’m not going to give up my position in the rankings to anyone without a fight.”
Nakrob views the clash at ONE Fight Night 26 as a supremely dangerous one. He admits that he often struggles against southpaw strikers like Kongthoranee.
And even though his foe does not have a top-five ranking next to his name, he has proven to be a true threat in the talent-laden flyweight Muay Thai division.
Nakrob added:
“Kongthoranee’s strength is his calm. His most dangerous weapons are his left kick and left punch. He is a scary southpaw. From my past experience, every time I fight a southpaw fighter, I get hurt, because I find them difficult to defend against. Even though he is not ranked yet, I think he is not inferior to the fighters in the rankings. If he beats me, he might take my place at number four.”
