Jaosuayai admits he couldn’t imagine being able to fight legendary Sam-A one day: "It never crossed my mind"

Thai striking machine Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi returns to the global stage of ONE Championship to face the most decorated opponent on his resume this Friday, December 19.

After primarily competing in the flyweight division, where he acquired six of his eight promotional wins via knockout, the 24-year-old powerhouse collides against multi-time world champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao in a strawweight Muay Thai tiff at ONE Friday Fights 137 inside Bangkok's legendary Lumpinee Stadium.

The chance to compete against the former two-sport, two-division ONE world champion isn't lost on Jaosuayai, who admits he's absolutely thrilled to compete against one of the most legendary names in the sport inside the ring.

“For my 125-pound debut, I was extremely surprised when ONE confirmed my opponent would be the legendary Sam-A," the Sor Dechapan warrior told ONE Championship in a pre-fight interview.

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"It never crossed my mind that I would get the chance to fight a legend whom I have been a fan of since I first started training," he continued.

His decision to make a move to the strawweight division comes after he suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Azerbaijan talent, Akif Guluzada, at ONE Fight Night 36 this past October.

The defeat brought an end to Jaosuayai's five-fight winning streak, which included three successive knockouts against Yodlekpet Or Atchariya, Denis Puric, and Nakrob Fairtex.

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Jaosuayai's knockout power will be his key to victory

There's nothing that Jaosuayai does better than acquiring highlight-reel finishes in ONE Championship. As such, his ability to shut down opponents will play a crucial role when he shares the ring against someone of Sam-A's caliber.

The Sor Dechapan man puts his foot through the gas pedal from the opening seconds, and that will help him unsettle the Evolve MMA megastar, who typically loves to avoid fighting recklessly.

Plus, his variety of tools, his left fist, right hand, elbows, or knees, oftentimes land with precision and power, and should he be able to land something significant on Sam-A, this one could be wrapped up early.

That said, the former ONE world champion isn't going to fall bait to his fellow countryman's forward pressure game all that easily. The 42-year-old has fought plenty of fighters with similar traits, so his fellow Thai will have to stay sharp and avoid getting frustrated if things don't go according to plan.

Will Jaosuayai's potent knockout tools help him score a win over an icon of the sport at ONE Friday Fights 137, or will Sam-A wrap his 2025 with a second straight victory?

ONE Friday Fights 137 will be available to watch on ONE Championship's YouTube channel, the ONE Super App, and watch.onefc.com. Geo-restrictions may apply.

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Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim