Friday night at Lumpinee Stadium delivered a masterclass in Muay Thai warfare as two-time World Champion Rungnarai Kiatmoo9 outlasted a game Den Sitnayoktaweeptaphong in a strawweight battle for the ages. The co-main event of ONE Friday Fights 154 had fans on the edge of their seats from the opening bell.
The first round was a chess match, with both fighters probing and testing each other's defenses. But Rungnarai, representing Evolve MMA, flipped the switch midway through, catching Den with a sharp left hook that sent a clear message. The Sak Buriram standout kept his cool, biding his time for the perfect opening.
Round two saw Den crank up the aggression, unloading blistering punch-kick combinations and pressing forward relentlessly. But the 30-year-old Rungnarai showed why he's a multi-time champion, slipping through the chaos with creative counters that left Den searching for answers. As the pace quickened, Rungnarai's experience shone brightest—a thunderous right hand opened a cut on Den's face, a testament to the accumulated damage.
The final round was pure fireworks. Both warriors swung for the fences, with Den pushing inside for a knockout blow while Rungnarai stayed disciplined, targeting his opponent's already battered right eye with precision strikes. When the dust settled, Rungnarai's cleaner counters and composure under fire earned him a unanimous decision victory, pushing his professional record to an impressive 63-16.
The card was packed with action from start to finish. Elvin Mammadov stopped Sanit Aekmuangnon via TKO in the second round of their flyweight Muay Thai clash. Anouwat Merlet outworked Dafi Sor Dechapan to a unanimous decision in strawweight action. Saenmuangnoi PK Saenchai showcased his skills against Asura Thiagesh, while Mahesuan Aekmuangnon finished Aung Tun Bo early in round two. The night's sole kickboxing bout saw Semih Sah Cindir edge Wang Penghui via split decision.
