At 42 years old, multi-time Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao does not just belong at this level. He still defines it.
The Thai legend delivered one of the most dramatic performances of his storied career on Friday night, stopping Elmehdi El Jamari with a walk-off head kick knockout.
Their strawweight Muay Thai battle served as the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 42: Mann vs. Dzhabrailov on Prime Video inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, April 10.
The Evolve MMA legend, a former two-division, two-sport ONE world champion, got the job done at the 2:43 mark of Round 2 and walked away with a well-earned US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
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El Jamari came out throwing sharp boxing combinations, and a right hand that bounced off Sam-A Gaiyanghadao’s forehead made clear he had not traveled to the Thai capital to be overawed by the occasion.
The Thai veteran absorbed it with characteristic calm, though, reading El Jamari’s rhythm and timing him with a heavy left hand whenever the forward pressure came.
The second round was something else entirely. Sam-A put El Jamari on the canvas twice in quick succession with punches of stunning clarity and precision, even nearly sending him through the ropes on the second occasion.
El Jamari somehow found a second wind, however, swarming back with clubbing shots that sent the 42-year-old crashing to the canvas in a stunning reversal.
The crowd inside Lumpinee Stadium lost its minds. But Sam-A regrouped and when the fight resumed, he ensured he made no mistakes in search of the spectacular.
He controlled his breathing and waited. When El Jamari charged forward, looking to close the show, the Thai icon answered with a perfectly timed head kick that put him to sleep where he stood.
Official result: Sam-A Gaiyanghadao defeats Elmehdi El Jamari via KO at 2:43 of Round 2
The referee jumped in to wave the contest off, earning Sam-A Gaiyanghadao the 378th victory of his legendary career.
He has now made it three victories in a row after falling to Jonathan Di Bella via unanimous decision at ONE 172 in Saitama, Japan, last year.
The Thai slugger, who shifted his camp to Evolve MMA’s new Bangkok gym, wants another shot at reigning ONE strawweight Muay Thai world champion Prajanchai PongSuphan PK.
By the looks of it, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao’s pursuit of one more ONE world title reign looks like a genuine, credible, and entirely believable mission.
North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription can watch the full ONE Fight Night 42 replay for free.
Edited by Aziel Karthak
