The Inner Circle 27: “Get back to my true form”

Former ONE atomweight Muay Thai world title challenger Songchainoi Kiatsongrit of Thailand is not hiding from what happened at ONE SAMURAI 1.

The 25-year-old Kiatsongrit Muay Thai Gym product pushed reigning ONE atomweight Muay Thai world champion Nadaka Yoshinari the full five rounds in Tokyo in April. “Mini-Hulk” lost on the scorecards in a performance that earned widespread praise.

The result, however, did not reflect was the physical battle he had endured before the first bell even rang.

He shared in a ONE Championship interview:

“It was a big learning experience for me. Credit to him, he was well-prepared. But on my end, adjusting my weight for the fight drained me and my body never recovered.”

Songchainoi continued:

“My confidence took a slight hit, but I’m hungry to get back to my true form. I’m 100 percent ready to go for this fight.”

That hunger gets its outlet at The Inner Circle 27 on Friday, Aug. 21, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.

In the main event, Songchainoi faces dangerous finisher Banluelok Sitwatcharachai. A win over one of the atomweight division’s most explosive stoppage artists would mark the beginning of a redemption arc aimed squarely at the world title.

Songchainoi targets return to the world title picture

A victory over Banluelok would not just restore momentum. It would send a message directly to the top of the atomweight division.

Banluelok has knocked out established opponents throughout his ONE Championship run, making him exactly the caliber of opponent Songchainoi needs to dismantle to reassert his credentials.

He told ONE Championship:

“The goal is still to build my way back up to Nadaka. I want to keep my spot at the top and keep raising my game.”

Fans can watch the main event live by purchasing The Inner Circle at live.onefc.com.