Numsurin believes Songchainoi hasn’t changed and plans to prove it at ONE Friday Fights 160

He beat him once. He earned a world title shot off the back of it and watched his rival go five rounds with Nadaka and nearly pull off the upset. None of it has changed his read on who wins when they share the ring again.

Numsurin Chor Ketwina returns to face Songchainoi Kiatsongrit in the atomweight Muay Thai main event of ONE Friday Fights 160, live in Asia primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, June 26. The veteran carries a 105-21 career record and a 6-2 ONE mark into a bout. The same prize is on the line as their first meeting. It’s a second shot at ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka.

Numsurin remembers the first fight clearly, including the round-one moment that has fuelled Songchainoi’s revenge narrative. He sees it differently.

“There was a bit of drama in the first round when he clipped me and I went down. Honestly, that was a flash knockdown where the referee could have either counted it or waved it off. Personally, I wasn’t buzzed at all; I just lost my footing. Then in round two, I turned the tables and scored a knockdown of my own by timing a beautiful left hook right to his face,” he said.

“Songchainoi is incredibly durable, and he packs the heaviest hands in this division. Having fought him before, I know for a fact that you cannot just stand there, shell up, and block his punches head-on. You have to use your head movement and slip his shots. On the flip side, his weakness is his kicking game — his kicks are still a bit slow and lack real thudding power.”

Numsurin Chor Ketwina plans to finish

Numsurin Chor Ketwina has prepared for every scenario Songchainoi Kiatsongrit might bring. Whether that is a full-throttle pressure assault or an unusual tactical display, the answers are already built into the camp.

The ambition behind Friday goes beyond settling the score. A finish would put Numsurin in a category of his own at atomweight and send a statement directly to Nadaka.

“I know putting Songchainoi away is no easy task. But the moment he slips up, I’m confident that my strikes are fast and explosive enough to make him the first person to get knocked out cold in ONE,” he said.

“I’ve already crushed Songchainoi’s dream of a title shot once, and heading into this rematch, I’m just as confident that I’ll double down on my victory. This win means everything to me because it puts me right back on track for a potential rematch for the gold against Nadaka.”