Two generations of Muay Thai excellence took center stage at the grand opening of Evolve MMA in Bangkok, Thailand, as two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and Thai-Malaysian contender Aliff Sor Dechapan put their skills on full display in front of fans and media.
The pair hit the pads ahead of their ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title main event showdown at The Inner Circle 23, which airs live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, July 24. The show will stream exclusively via live.onefc.com.
With reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai PongSuphan PK sidelined due to injury, an interim king will be crowned later this week.
Sam-A: A Legend Without An Expiry Date
At 42 years old, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao is doing things that defy logic.
The Evolve MMA representative has been competing in Muay Thai for more than three decades, and his 378-50 career record stands as one of the most staggering in the history of the sport.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers to ever put on the gloves, Sam-A is a high-IQ fighter who dismantles opponents with thudding kicks and powerful punches, breaking them down with the kind of technical ability that can only be accumulated over a lifetime of training.
Sam-A’s ONE Championship journey tells the same story.
Going 12-4 in the promotion, the two-sport, two-division World Champion has refused to let age become a factor. He arrives at The Inner Circle 23 riding a three-bout winning streak, having defeated Thway Lin Htet, Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi, and Elmehdi El Jamari in succession.
It’s a brilliant run that has proven, emphatically, that he can still compete with – and beat – the young guns who are rising to the top of the game. And if he can win once more this Friday, then he’ll add interim gold to his dazzling trophy case.
Aliff: The Young Lion Knocks On The Door
Born in Malaysia and raised in Thailand, Aliff Sor Dechapan has been one of the most exciting stories in ONE Championship’s strawweight Muay Thai division.
The Sor Dechapan product carries a 62-9 career record, including nine promotional victories, into this contest, and he arrives in peak form. A five-bout winning streak, capped by an impressive victory over Ramadan “The Scorpion” Ondash, sealed his shot at interim gold and confirmed him as one of the most dangerous challengers in the weight class.
Known as a relentless pressure fighter, the 22-year-old overwhelms his opponents with a smothering blend of kicks, punches, and knees, giving them no time to breathe and no room to escape. His aggressive, forward-moving style presents a fascinating stylistic contrast to Sam-A’s calculated, counter-attacking approach, and it promises to make for a compelling clash of generations.
Before Sam-A and Aliff step into the ring for their ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title bout at The Inner Circle 23, take a look at their open workout session from Evolve MMA in Bangkok.