Strawweight Muay Thai Aliff Sor Dechapan prevailed victorious at ONE Fight Night 32, but there were other circumstances at hand that he had to overcome.
The Thai star dispatched Elmehdi El Jamari by unanimous decision in strawweight Muay Thai action on Friday, June 6, at Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Aliff Faced Pressure from El Jamari en Route to Fourth Straight Win
The victory was Aliff’s fourth consecutive win, however, it was also his most challenging. Aside from standing across from a renowned finisher in El Jamari, Aliff was battling illness throughout fight week. That forced him to adjust his approach from searching for a blistering finish to settling for a three-round outclassing.
So while it wasn’t his preferred method, Aliff was satisfied enough to pocket the victory and look ahead to what’s next.
“I was happy to get the win because I fell sick during fight week. And I had to alter my strategy to win by points. My plan was to knock him out, but because I wasn’t feeling at my best, my team provided me with the plan to beat him by points,” Aliff explained.
“I was happy to get the win. Not the result I wanted, but the win I needed.”
Aliff Now Firmly in Strawweight Muay Thai Title Picture
Having notched consistent wins, Aliff has now emerged as the next credible contender for two-division ONE World Champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai’s strawweight Muay Thai crown.
The Thai star has been dreaming of earning an opportunity at ONE Championship gold since graduating from the ONE Friday Fights series. So getting to come nose-to-nose in the ring with Prajanchai marked a prolific moment in the 22-year-old’s career.
While other combatants would take the chance to stir up animosity, Aliff is full of respect for his older compatriot. Prajanchai is a battler he’s spent many years idolizing and learning from, so it’s not in him to disrespect the two-sport king.
He’s Not Taking Prajanchai Lightly Ahead of Fight Later in 2025
However, he was quick to let Prajanchai and the media know that he’ll do whatever it takes to unceremonious dethrone the legendary battler from his throne when they meet later this year.
“He’s such an experienced fighter and one of the best champions out there. He’s been up there even before I started fighting. So it was a special moment for me. I never thought I’d be able to share that moment in the ring with such a good fighter,” Aliff said.
“I told [Prajanchai], ‘That’s a really nice belt, and I really want to try and get it from you one day.’ He responded with just a few words: ‘It won’t be easy.’ That’s it,” Aliff revealed.
