21 August 2020 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), once again electrified the bustling Thai capital of Bangkok with another spectacular evening of world-class martial arts action. ONE: NO SURRENDER III, a closed-door, audience-free event showcased the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent.
In the main event, 21-year-old Thai phenom “Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai notched the biggest win of his young career, stopping top-rated countryman “The Million Dollar Baby” Sangmanee Klong SuanPluResort to advance to the final round of the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament. The two men exchanged fiery combinations at the center of the ONE Championship ring to start the contest. Sangmanee was loose and relaxed, as Kulabdam launched sharp uppercuts and hooks from just out of range. However, an explosive left straight toward the end of the first round connected for Kulabdam, tagging Sangmanee flush to the jaw. Sangmanee was out cold before he hit the ground, as Kulabdam walked away with an emphatic knockout victory.
*NOTE: Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym will step in for the injured Saemapetch Fairtex in the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Final.
In a ONE Super Series flyweight Muay Thai contest, Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy of Thailand put forth a striking clinic, thwarting an aggressive but outclassed opponent in Kun Khmer World Champion Sok Thy of Cambodia. Sok Thy started the first round attacking aggressively, moving forward while Mongkolpetch opted to counter from range. In the second round, Mongkolpetch continued to use his height and reach advantage, keeping Sok Thy at bay with accurate combinations and superior length. In the final frame, Mongkolpetch turned up the intensity, proceeding to outwork Sok Thy en route to a unanimous decision victory after three rounds.
Thai Naksu Champion and ONE Championship veteran Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai spoiled WBC Muay Thai Champion Fabio Pinca’s highly-anticipated mixed martial arts debut, winning by close split decision after three rounds. Wiratchai started strong in the early going, controlling the pace with well-placed counters, and dropping Pinca at the end of the first round. Pinca opened up the second round with slicing elbows on the inside, but a spinning backfist from Wiratchai dropped the Frenchman. In the third and final round, Pinca turned up the aggression as he got more comfortable on the feet. Wiratchai used his superior experience to stay out of harm’s way, edging Pinca out slightly on the judges’ scorecards.
2-time Thailand Muay Thai Champion Wondergirl Fairtex put together a smashing performance, using speed and power to overwhelm WBC Oceania Muay Thai Champion Brooke Farrell of Australia in her ONE Super Series debut. Wondergirl showcased her pinpoint accuracy, connecting on a variety of punch combinations from range. A series of right hands then dropped Farrell just a couple of minutes into the round. As soon as the Australian got back to her feet, Wondergirl swarmed her opponent with straight punches to complete the impressive first round knockout.
In a ONE Super Series atomweight Muay Thai contest, Estonian “Snow Leopard” Marie Ruumet impressed in her ONE Super Series debut, defeating game but overmatched opponent Little Tiger of Japan after three exciting rounds. Ruumet was effective with her reach and timing, staying tall while attacking Tiger with roundhouse kicks, step through elbows, and a stream of powerful knees in the clinch. Though Tiger never backed down, Ruumet’s constant pressure continued through rounds two and three and proved too much for the Japanese athlete to overcome. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Ruumet to win by unanimous decision.
Kicking off the action at ONE: NO SURRENDER III, UKFC Featherweight Champion Ben Royle of the United Kingdom made a successful ONE Championship debut, scoring the first knockout of his career with a TKO victory over the United States’ Quitin Thomas. Though the two athletes are primarily grapplers, the entire bout was spent on the feet as both men preferred to trade strikes at the center of the ONE Championship ring. A leg kick hurt Thomas in the second round, and the American was close to being finished, but Royle had difficulty putting his opponent away. Instead, he put the finishing touches in the third round, stopping Thomas with a perfectly executed standing combination.
Official results for ONE: NO SURRENDER III
ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Semifinal: Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai defeats Sangmanee Klong SuanPluResort by Knockout (KO) at 2:45 minutes of round 1
Muay Thai Flyweight: Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy defeats Sok Thy by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Featherweight: Shannon Wiratchai defeats Fabio Pinca by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds
Muay Thai Strawweight: Wondergirl Fairtex defeats Brooke Farrell by Knockout (KO) at 1:21 minutes of round 1
Muay Thai Atomweight: Marie Ruumet defeats Little Tiger by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Featherweight: Ben Royle defeats Quitin Thomas by TKO (Strikes) at 3:27 minutes of round 3
