“Going With the Flow Would Be the Best Way” – Jo Nattawut Looking to Add Gold to His Resume as He Approaches Twilight of His Career

“Smokin” Jo Nattawut is ready to add one final piece of hardware to his trophy case.

On June 7, in the main event of ONE 167 on Prime Video, the 34-year-old Thai will challenge his compatriot Tawanchai PK Saenchai for his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title, live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Impact Arena.

What is the gameplan for Jo Nattawut?

The pair of knockout artists have clashed before. Last October, at ONE Fight Night 15, Nattawut dropped a narrow decision to Tawanchai in a kickboxing bout that he had accepted on just two weeks’ notice.

Smokin’ Jo would bounce back to the win column with a thrilling victory over American star Luke “The Chef” Lessei in his next fight, securing a shot at the featherweight Muay Thai kingpin.

Nattawut has plenty of respect for the World Champion, who boasts a near-perfect 8-1 record in the world’s largest martial arts organization and, with his masterful technique and shocking power, has cemented himself as a pound-for-pound great.

After already sharing the ring with him for three high-paced rounds, Smokin’ Jo thinks that his best gameplan against Tawanchai is no gameplan at all – he’ll simply go with the flow and lean heavily on his decades of Muay Thai experience.

Nattawut explained, “Tawanchai, he’s the king of the division. If you want to beat him, you have to be really, really good. Really clever. 

“This is just like the next round to me. The plan is not complicated. We just go in there and see what’s going to happen and figure it out from there. Going with the flow would be the best way, for me.” 

“Smokin” wants the World Title

Now on the precipice of the biggest fight of his life, “Smokin” Jo admits that he’s nearing the end of his illustrious career.

A former WMC Muay Thai World Champion who has long been regarded as one of Muay Thai’s hardest hitters, he believes that 26 pounds of ONE Championship gold would solidify his legacy as an all-time great.

Nattawut added, “The World Title would mean my work has been successful. I’m at the end of my career. Everywhere I go, I always get the title. So this is another belt to prove that I am really a champion.”