Muangthai PK Saenchai has redemption on his mind. At ONE Friday Fights 114 on June 27, the Thai star meets a familiar foe, Seksan Or Kwanmuang, in a 140-pound Muay Thai battle. After losing his previous bouts against his compatriot, “Elbow Zombie” is confident he can finally score a win over his rival.
“I feel an immense hunger to win against him, and since he’s been fighting on major ONE cards, I believe that if I can beat him, I’ll get many more significant opportunities in my life. That makes me even more determined than for any other fight,” Muangthai PK Saenchai confessed to ONE.
The prior meetings between Muangthai PK Saenchai and Seksan were contested under traditional Muay Thai rules, and all were five-round bouts. Inside Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, four-ounce gloves will be a new wrinkle in their series when they meet in ONE Championship for the first time. “Elbow Zombie” believes the shift in the ruleset will be what he needs to finally upend Seksan.
“In those fights where I lost to Seksan, they were always very close, back-and-forth battles, often decided by a slight shift in the late rounds. He possesses a very resilient heart. He doesn’t give up easily. And he sometimes used smarter techniques, occasionally employing clinches or throws that caused me to stumble or make mistakes, especially under traditional Muay Thai rules. That’s why I lost,” the Thai star remarked.
Muangthai PK Saenchai With Less Time to Beat Seksan Friday
Another difference will be the number of rounds the two will have to finish each other. In their previous encounters, the matches were five rounds. At ONE Friday Fights 114, all they will have is nine total minutes on the clock.
“I believe that in three-round fights under ONE rules, anything can happen. With the use of my weapons and my fierce fighting spirit, I believe I can succeed,” Muangthai PK Saenchai said.
The confidence coming from “Elbow Zombie” is due in part to his current form. Muangthai PK Saenchai is coming off back-to-back finishes inside Lumpinee Stadium. The 31-year-old attributes his momentum to his improved mindset during training.
“The reason my form has improved is that I am very determined. When I train, I understand my responsibilities. I want to build momentum and make a name for myself once again because I did experience some losses before. Now, I feel proud that I’ve regained my form, and I am truly enjoying my fights,” Muangthai stated.
Muangthai Hoping Age Slows Down Seksan June 27
Perhaps above all else, Muangthai PK Saenchai believes Father Time could be the ultimate factor. Although Seksan has proven himself on the global stage, he is still competing on the backside of his career. With less wear and tear on his body, Muangthai believes he can take out his rival by being the more physically imposing man inside the ring.
“If you compare me and Seksan from when we first met many, many years ago – likely over a decade ago – the difference now is that I’m probably still in a phase where my body is performing at its best, but he might have aged a bit, and since we’ll be fighting with small gloves, I believe anything can happen,” Muangthai PK Saenchai said.
ONE Friday Fights 114 airs live on Friday, June 27. The action begins at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. The event is free across ONE’s social media platforms including YouTube and Facebook.
