'Don't Underestimate Me' – Nontachai Sends a Warning to Kiamran Nabati Before The Inner Circle 31

The 27-year-old will face Russian destroyer Kiamran Nabati in the main event of The Inner Circle 31 on Friday, September 18. The show streams exclusively on live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

That matchup was originally booked for ONE Fight Night 46 before Nontachai fell ill. The Thai used the extra time well, arriving at September 18 on a three-fight winning streak and a 53-22 career record.

A Thai veteran hungry for a fourth consecutive win meets a Russian knockout artist who is looking to bounce back from his first-ever loss, and the bantamweight Muay Thai division will be watching closely.

Nontachai Says the Postponement Was a Blessing in Disguise

The illness that pushed the fight back a month could have been a disruption. But Nontachai has reframed it entirely, arriving at the rescheduled date with a perspective that turns the delay into an advantage.

"Pushing it back a month ended up being a blessing in disguise. It gave me more time to train and get my body into peak shape. Sure, Kiamran got extra time too, but I don't see that as an issue. Every fighter puts in the work regardless," Nontachai said.

The Jitmuangnon Gym product's three-fight winning streak reflects a fighter operating with confidence and momentum. His 53-22 career record includes the kind of high-level Thai competition that forges exactly the physical conditioning and mental toughness needed for a main event performance.

Nontachai Tells Nabati Not to Underestimate Him at The Inner Circle 31

The Thai striker delivered one of his most direct prefight messages ahead of The Inner Circle 31. Nontachai has no interest in subtlety when it comes to setting the tone for how he expects September 18 to unfold.

"Last month I said I wasn't at a disadvantage against him, and I'm still confident about that. My message to him stays the same: don't underestimate me. You're definitely going to remember the name Nontachai. As for Kiamran, bring everything you've got. I'm not scared of you,” he explained.

Nabati's near-perfect 22-1 career record and his reputation as one of the most explosive Russian strikers in the bantamweight division has made him an athlete that most opponents approach with caution.

Nontachai Has His Eyes on the Belt After Chasing Fourth Straight Win

The immediate target is the winning streak, but Nontachai is already looking beyond it. A fourth consecutive ONE Championship victory would be a personal milestone, and the Thai striker has identified exactly what it could lead to.

"If I pull off this win over Kiamran, it'll be my fourth straight victory. I've never had a four-fight winning streak before, so I really want to keep this momentum going. Honestly, my eyes are set on the belt now," he said.

New ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri, who defeated Nabati earlier this year on the way to the title, has created a vacancy at the top of the division's contender rankings. A commanding win over Nabati, the fighter Yod-IQ beat to earn his title shot, would put Nontachai's name directly into that conversation.

Watch The Inner Circle 31 exclusively on live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT.