Both men’s skills are unquestioned, but they enter the event with their backs against the wall after coming up short in their previous outings.

For Tawanchai, he dropped a narrow split decision against Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE: Battleground III last August. A doctor stoppage halted Saemapetch’s streak due to a cut against Rittewada Petchyindee Academy in a bout he was seemingly in control of prior to the cut occurring.

In the hunt for Nong-O Gaiyanghadao’s ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship, the showdown between the two elite strikers is a must-win.

Saemapetch has retained his top spot in the rankings, which means he is still in the cat bird’s seat for a title shot if he can claim a victory against an athlete the caliber of Tawanchai. And his dazzling Thai counterpart, who made an immediate impact with a head kick knockout in his debut in 2021, is eager to knock him off his perch.

“The Art Of Eight Limbs” doesn’t get much more spectacular than this matchup.

Saemapetch and Tawanchai both enter with the motivation to erase the taste of their last performances and signal to Nong-O that in 2022, they are coming for the belt.

ONE: Heavy Hitters airs across Bleacher Report platforms on Friday, January 14, at 5:00 a.m. EST/2:00 a.m. PST.

Tawanchai’s RUTHLESS Debut WITHOUT Commentary 🥶🔇