“I’m Trying To Do Something Opposite” – Davit Kiria Reveals His Plans To Neutralize Tawanchai’s Strengths Ahead of Kickboxing Bout at ONE Fight Night 13

Georgian standout Davit Kiria is now in the final preparations for his highly anticipated featherweight kickboxing showdown against current ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai.

On Friday, August 4, Kiria will venture into enemy territory and attempt to score the upset against the world-renowned Thai superstar when the two clash at ONE Fight Night 13: Allazov vs. Grigorian on Prime Video, live in North American Primetime from the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

A transition to kickboxing for Tawanchai PK Saenchai

The bout will be Tawanchai’s first kickboxing match in ONE as he begins his climb toward two-sport glory. But Kiria–a decorated former Glory Kickboxing World Champion – plans to stall the titleholder’s hype train before it can even leave the station.

Given his opponent’s four-fight winning streak (including three knockouts) and reputation as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound Muay Thai strikers, the man from Tiblis, Georgia, is well aware of what Tawanchai will bring to the table on Friday night. Looking ahead to that fight, he said: “The game plan? We’ll see in the fight. I can’t talk about everything, but we all know he is a good kicker. We got to close the distance, block, answer the kicks.” Kiria would be wise to shut down the 24-year-old’s kicks early.

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Just six months ago, Tawanchai scored a first-round knockout thanks to a devastating leg kick, successfully defending his featherweight Muay Thai crown for the first time.But despite the Thai’s accolades and momentum, Kiria has all the tools to spring an upset.

Davit Kiria is studying his opponent closely

The 31-year-old came to ONE as one of the world’s top kickboxers but struggled against legendary strikers like Giorgio Petrosyan and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong. He now aims to live up to the lofty expectations he brought with him and take out a ONE World Champion all in one fight. In order to do that, he’s been closely studying Tawanchai and devising a plan to neutralize his best weapons–his thunderous kicks.

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Beyond that, Kiria says he’ll press a high pace to force the titleholder on the defensive whenever he can: “The way he fights, I have to fight my own fight. And I have to use my skills and boxing to stop his kicks. Of course, I’ll go for the KO, yes. But there is also more of a plan to stop his fighting style, so I am learning his style. I’m trying to do something opposite from him. Close the distance, stay aggressive, keep the pressure.”