Songchainoi Vows to Reclaim His Prime Form Against Banluelok at The Inner Circle 27

The 25-year-old Thai faces compatriot Banluelok Sitwatcharachai in the atomweight Muay Thai main event at The Inner Circle 27 on Friday, August 21. The show streams exclusively via live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Songchainoi earned a US$100,000 ONE Championship contract through an impressive ONE Friday Fights run before stepping up to challenge Nadaka for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship this past April. Despite the competitive showing, he fell short via unanimous decision.

Now, the Thai arrives at The Inner Circle 27 looking to snap a difficult stretch and remind everyone in the division of the fighter who forced his way into a title fight.

Songchainoi Identifies Banluelok's Speed as the Key Problem to Solve

Songchainoi, who has felt empowered by his family, has done his preparation on a compatriot currently operating in strong form. The former title challenger has broken down Banluelok's style with the specificity of a fighter who knows exactly what kind of fight awaits him on August 21.

"He's on a great run right now. He's won two straight in kickboxing and Muay Thai. Looking at his past fights in both Muay Thai and kickboxing, he's really fast. I have to press forward and stay glued to him," Songchainoi explained.

Banluelok owns a 90-22 career record including five wins in ONE Championship, four by way of stoppage. He is dangerous when given space to work, and his speed across both Muay Thai and kickboxing makes him a difficult puzzle for any atomweight to solve, especially if the fight goes the distance.

Songchainoi's Warning Ahead of The Inner Circle 27

The former title challenger has made clear that whatever Banluelok's ambitions are heading into The Inner Circle 27, they will not be achieved without a serious fight. Songchainoi is fully aware of the stakes this result carries for his opponent and has no intention of making it easy.

"A win over me could earn him a ONE contract, push him onto the big stage, or set up a rematch with Nadaka. But we'll see what happens inside the ring. I'm not letting anyone pass through me easily. I want this win to reclaim my prime form. Fans are definitely going to get an action-packed, toe-to-toe war," he said.

“Mini-Hulk” holds 60 career victories, 10 of which have come through an impressive run at ONE Friday Fights. The Thai is known for his power and boxing, which make him a threat every second of a fight.

Songchainoi Eyes Winning Streak, Second Title Shot Against Nadaka

Amid the immediate challenge of getting back to winning ways, Songchainoi has kept his long-term ambitions clearly in focus. The former title challenger is not looking for a shortcut back to the title. Instead, he wants to earn it the right way.

"The goal is still to build my way back up to Nadaka. I want to keep my spot at the top and keep raising my game. But I want to do it right. I want to win two, three, four, or five fights in a row first, so nobody can question it when I get that title shot again," he said.

The patience and self-awareness behind that approach reflect a fighter who learned from his title challenge experience and understands that a convincing path to a rematch is more valuable than a quick booking. Banluelok stands at the start of that journey on August 21, and Songchainoi is determined to take the first step in the right direction.

Watch The Inner Circle 27 exclusively on live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT.