Sometimes a loss forces you to look in the mirror. And for Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi, that reflection revealed a fighter ready for a fresh start at a new weight class — against the toughest possible opponent.
After Akif Guluzada snapped his five-fight winning streak with a first-round knockdown at ONE Fight Night 36 this past October, the 24-year-old Thai striker made a decision that would reshape his immediate future. He’s dropping to strawweight Muay Thai, and his debut comes this Friday, December 19, at ONE Friday Fights 137 at Lumpinee Stadium against former two-sport, two-division ONE champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.
No easing in. No tune-up fight. Just straight into the deep end against a living legend.
“For my 125-pound debut, I was extremely surprised when ONE confirmed my opponent would be the legendary Sam-A. 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 said.
“I see Sam-A as a true Muay Thai legend with no flaws, whether it’s his strategy, striking, heavy left kick, or toughness. I consider this the toughest opponent of my career.”
The move to strawweight wasn’t born from fear of flyweight competition. Jaosuayai’s 8-3 record in ONE Championship includes six knockouts and a life-changing six-figure contract earned by finishing Denis Puric in March.
But the loss to Guluzada demanded honest reflection about where he fits best.
“After the last fight, my weight only went up by four or five pounds,” he said.
“So, I decided to consult with my coach about dropping down to try the 125-pound division, a weight class I haven’t competed at for about four-to-five years.”
The knockout artist was brutally honest about what went wrong against Guluzada — a jumping knee counter in the first round that sent him to the canvas and fundamentally changed the trajectory of the bout.
“Personally, I think the game plan and style for the last fight with Akif was a mess. Although we had a good plan, we messed up in the first round when Akif countered my head-lowering punch with a jumping knee, which led to me being counted,” he said.
“In that moment I was counted, I lost control. It was like my vision cut out, and I instantly blacked out. But with so many fans cheering for me, it gave me the determination to fight back and grit my teeth to get back up and continue the fight.”
Though Jaosuayai rallied over the final two rounds and even wobbled his opponent, the early knockdown proved insurmountable. Guluzada stayed one step ahead and claimed the unanimous decision.
But rather than viewing the weight cut as retreat, Jaosuayai sees it as optimization. Improved training protocols have naturally brought his weight down, and he believes the move will actually enhance his performance.
“This decision is not about running away from the 135-pound division, as some have criticized. It’s because my improved training plan has made my body condition better, and my weight has been dropping automatically,” he said.
“I feel more energetic, elusive, and faster now, which should lead to more evenly matched and exciting opponents than at 135 pounds. However, I want to emphasize that I am happy to fight at both 125 pounds and 135 pounds.”
Now he faces the ultimate litmus test. Sam-A Gaiyanghadao owns an astonishing 376 career victories and has captured ONE world titles across two sports — the inaugural ONE flyweight Muay Thai championship in 2018, the inaugural ONE strawweight kickboxing title in 2019, and the inaugural ONE strawweight Muay Thai championship in February 2020.
The 42-year-old stalwart is coming off a dominant unanimous decision over Thway Lin Htet at ONE Friday Fights 126 in September, showing no signs of slowing down despite three decades of elite competition.
For Jaosuayai, who has built his reputation on flying knees, devastating kicks, and spectacular spinning elbows, the opportunity represents both the ultimate test and the ultimate honor. But he also sees an opening that traditional Muay Thai rules wouldn’t provide.
“I believe that under the small gloves of ONE, the outcome is 50-50, depending on whose timing is better and who lands more accurately,” he said.
“If I can manage to beat Sam-A, it would be a significant historical moment and a huge source of pride in my life. After this fight, if I win, I’m ready to take on everyone in this division.”
