For the first time in years, Nong-O Hama’s back is against the wall, and he is determined to come off it fighting. On Friday, April 5, the striking superstar will return to action against Thai compatriot Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai in what is expected to be an explosive bantamweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE Friday Fights 58: Superbon vs. Grigorian.

After a dominant 10-fight win streak that saw him conquer the division and rule over it supremely, Nong-O has suffered back-to-back knockout losses in his last two outings in ONE. He first lost the World Title to Jonathan Haggerty last April and then suffered a third-round finish at the hands of striking phenom Nico Carillo eight months later. 

Nong-O Hama on building a good defense

The 37-year-old will have another difficult opponent in front of him at ONE Friday Fights 58, and he discussed the key adjustments he is making to his fight approach in an interview with ONE. “I change my training and game plan for every fight because each of my opponents has a different style,” Nong-O said. 

“For this fight, I know my opponent has a good punch. So I focused on protecting myself from his punches.” Kulabdam is riding a three-fight streak of wins, with all coming via first-round knockout, so there’s is no denying how dangerous he is.

That said, Nong-O should never be underestimated, despite his recent slide. Prior to his losses, the Evolve MMA representative collected five straight finishes against world-class contenders like Liam Harrison, Felipe Lobo, Rodlek PK Saenchai, and Saemapetch Fairtex. 

On top of that, he expects to be at his best when he steps back into the ring, meaning an exciting bout is almost guaranteed. “This fight going to be explosive. I’m ready to go toe-to-toe with him, and I’ll never back down,” Nong-O said. 

The former bantamweight Muay Thai king knows he is in a vulnerable position right now. Kulabdam is on a hot streak, and he’ll be hoping to vault his name into the upper echelon of the divisional rankings with another win. 

Though Nong-O recognizes his countryman’s talent, he issued a warning that he will not be a stepping stone for anyone. “I give Kulabdam 10 out of 10. This man is in top form right now. But he doesn’t dare think that he’s going to beat me easily,” he said.

Also Read: “It Means Everything to Me” – Marat Grigorian Determined to Claim ONE Gold at the Expense of Superbon