‘I Really Want The Finish This Time’ – Kongchai Looks To Close The Show Against Mehrdad Khanzadeh At ONE Friday Fights 148
· Yahoo Sports
Former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kongchai Chanaidonmueang is determined to turn consistency into a statement performance when he faces Iranian slugger Mehrdad Khanzadeh in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 148.
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The strawweight Muay Thai showdown takes place on Friday, March 27, live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium. Scheduled for ONE Friday Fights 146, the bout was postponed due to Khanzadeh’s illness but returns with even greater stakes as both men chase a coveted US$100,000 contract and a place on ONE’s global roster.
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Few athletes have been as active in the weekly series as Kongchai. The 23-year-old southpaw has compiled 10 victories in ONE Friday Fights, building a reputation as one of its most reliable performers. With a 76-16 professional record, he remains firmly in the conversation for a main-roster contract.
He enters this contest on a two-fight winning streak, having defeated Walter Goncalves and most recently edged Myanmar’s Thway Lin Htet in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 140. Those wins extended his momentum but left him searching for a more emphatic performance.
He said:
“Everything went according to plan and I didn’t rush it, but I wasn’t entirely happy with my performance. Since I’d been out of the ring for three months, my strikes felt a bit sluggish. I managed to go the full three rounds, though, and Thway Lin Htet definitely started to fade toward the end.
“It’s a shame I couldn’t close the show. There were two or three clear openings where he was visibly rocked, especially in the third round where he was hurting bad, but I just couldn’t put him away.”
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Khanzadeh presents a dangerous test.
The Iranian striker is coming off a gritty win at ONE Friday Fights 125, where he battled back from a knockdown to defeat Kritpet PK Saenchai. The Sor Dechapan athlete brings forward pressure and heavy hands.
Kongchai knows that style demands constant vigilance.
He said:
“Mehrdad is in great form. He just beat Kritpet, who’s a former opponent of mine, and he looked really sharp in that fight. His hands are dangerous, so I’ve been training hard to stay alert and keep my guard up.
“I can’t just rely on my kicks; I need to fire back with my own punches too. I’ve been working a lot on my boxing to match him, kicks and punches together.”
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Kongchai expects a physically demanding contest and has adjusted his approach accordingly. He anticipates forward pressure and heavy punches from Khanzadeh and knows he cannot afford to give ground or leave openings.
He remains grounded despite talk of being the favorite, fully aware of how quickly ONE’s small-glove Muay Thai can turn.
He said:
“I’ll be looking for my openings on the fly. I really want the finish this time, using everything in my arsenal.”
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Kongchai Determined To Break Through And Secure Contract
With his impressive resume, Kongchai remains focused on proving he belongs on ONE’s global roster.
The Tor Sangtiennoi representative has long been one of the most consistent performers in ONE Friday Fights, but he is still chasing the defining run that will secure him a contract. Training alongside elite talents such as Suriyanlek Por Yenying, he continues to refine his approach as he looks to take that next step.
He said:
“I want to keep racking up wins and hunt for the contract again. I want to put on exciting fights, just like Suriyanlek. We talked at the gym after his last win, and he told me to stay focused and go for those bonuses. Seeing him win really fired me up. I told him to start us off strong with a win, and I’d follow suit. His victory gave me a huge boost.”
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Kongchai is also determined to build sustained momentum. In the past, he has put together winning streaks only to fall short when a contract seemed within reach. He is focused on breaking that cycle with performances that leave a lasting impression.
The postponement gave him additional time to prepare, and he believes the extra camp time has worked in his favor. He has used it to sharpen his boxing, ensuring he is ready for a close-range battle if needed.
He said:
“He’s a puncher, and I’m a kicker, but I’ve added more boxing to my game. If he wants to trade, I want him to know I’ve got hands too, not just kicks.”
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