3 Explosive Reasons To Watch The Inner Circle 23 On July 24
· Yahoo Sports
Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium plays host to another blockbuster night when The Inner Circle 23 arrives live in Asia primetime, on Friday, July 24.
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The card, which streams exclusively for members at live.onefc.com, features five kickboxing and Muay Thai battles, with plenty of world-class talent looking to make a statement inside the historic venue.
Here are three key reasons to tune in to this week’s edition of The Inner Circle.
#1 Interim Gold Up For Grabs
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With divisional king Prajanchai PongSuphan PK sidelined due to injury, two men at very different stages of their careers collide for the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao requires no introduction to fight fans. The 42-year-old Thai veteran built his legacy by capturing multiple belts across the sport’s most prestigious stadiums. He further elevated his legendary status by capturing the organization’s kickboxing and Muay Thai crown at strawweight after holding the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship.
Representing Evolve MMA and carrying a staggering 378-50 record, his world-class arsenal sharpened over three decades has made him a nightmare matchup for virtually every opponent placed in front of him. Most recently, he blitzed Elmehdi “The Sniper” El Jamari inside two rounds, the latest reminder that his pursuit for 26 pounds of gold remains very much open at 42.
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Standing in his path in this headliner attraction is Aliff Sor Dechapan, a young star ready to craft the most memorable chapter of his career. The 22-year-old has been a revelation since arriving on the global stage, pairing relentless forward pressure with heavy, speedy combinations that have overwhelmed far more experienced fighters.
He enters this clash riding a five-fight winning streak. A victory here would not only make him a ONE World Champion, but it would also make him the first-ever athlete from Malaysia to hoist the promotion’s 26 pounds of gold.
Whoever leaves Bangkok victorious will secure a unification war against Prajanchai, adding another layer of stakes to an already must-watch main event pitting legacy against ambition.
#2 Panpayak Chases Kickboxing Perfection
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“The Angel Warrior” Panpayak Jitmuangnon has spent his career proving he belongs among Muay Thai’s very best. That pedigree has translated seamlessly into kickboxing in ONE, where the seven-time Muay Thai World Champion remains undefeated.
His first two victories in the discipline arrived at flyweight, before he made the jump to bantamweight and continued his roll with a hard-fought split-decision win over Othman “The Ironside” Rhouni in the co-main event of ONE Friday Fights 155 this past May.
Boasting a combined striking record of 251-44, the 30-year-old’s game is built on composure and technical mastery, a product of a career spent adapting across disciplines while continuing to beat world-class competition at the highest level.
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Looking to prevent “The Angel Warrior” from flying up the charts is a hungry, ambitious talent eager to make a name for himself at the Thai’s expense. Anuar “Bad Boy” Cisneros brings youthful aggression and a genuine desire to make a statement in this bantamweight kickboxing battle at The Inner Circle 23.
The 25-year-old Mexican, who represents Silk Muay Thai, has earned this opportunity in his own right, and sharing the ring with a fighter of Panpayak’s stature is exactly the kind of stage he has been chasing. He appears fully intent on making the most of it.
However, should the Thai add another impressive victory to his ledger, it would send a real message to the rest of the bantamweight kickboxing division currently ruled by Jonathan “The General” Haggerty, who will defend his coveted belt against Hiroki Akimoto at ONE SAMURAI 4 this October.
#3 A Rising Japanese Star Makes His Bow
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Few debutants arrive with as much weight on their shoulders as Ryujin “Shindo” Nasukawa, who opens his ONE account against Thai slugger Thongpoon PK Saenchai in a strawweight kickboxing tiff.
The younger brother of retired kickboxing icon Tenshin Nasukawa, the 20-year-old carries a 17-3 record and an already decorated resume that includes the ISKA K-1 Strawweight World Championship and RISE Flyweight Title.
His three-year, 14-fight winning streak only came to an end this past June, and he now arrives in Bangkok determined to launch an entirely new run on martial arts’ grandest platform.
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He has made no secret of his desire to build a legacy entirely his own, separate from the shadow cast by his brother’s flawless 42-0 career. His assignment at The Inner Circle 23, however, will be no walk in the park.
Thongpoon brings 80 career victories and a flair for theatrics to match his devastating finishing ability, having racked up four knockout wins since arriving in the organization. The PK Saenchai Muaythaigym representative is eager to move past recent adversity and remind the promotion of the danger he still poses, particularly against a hyped newcomer looking to make an immediate name for himself.
As such, fans should expect an all-action war between two fighters with everything to prove. For Thongpoon, spoiling the party would reaffirm his own place in the division’s pecking order. In the opposite corner, victory for Ryujin would help him deliver on the hype and mark the first major step in a career he hopes will one day stand entirely on its own.