The Inner Circle event on May 22 just got a major shakeup, and fight fans are in for a treat. Originally set to feature a ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title showdown between reigning champion Superbon and China's rising star "Spirit Dragon" Liu Mengyang, the card has been reshuffled after the Thai superstar suffered an injury. But don't worry—the action is still red-hot.
Liu remains on the card and will now face dangerous Venezuelan striker Gabriel Pereira in a high-stakes featherweight kickboxing matchup that could redefine the division's pecking order. Meanwhile, the headline attraction shifts to a bantamweight Muay Thai firefight between surging Thai sensation Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri and undefeated Russian knockout artist Kiamran Nabati. Both fights promise fireworks.
Liu's rise through the featherweight ranks has been nothing short of explosive. The 23-year-old from Shunyuan Fight Club first announced himself to the global fan base at ONE Friday Fights 92 in December 2024, dropping future interim featherweight kickboxing king Masaaki Noiri with a thunderous right hook just 20 seconds into the opening round before earning a unanimous decision victory. Four months later, he suffered a narrow split-decision loss to Mohammad Siasarani, but quickly rebounded at ONE Friday Fights 126 with an impressive win over Shadow Mavinn, dropping the decorated Thai striker with a crushing left hook in the second round.
But Liu's biggest statement came at ONE Friday Fights 137 on December 19, 2025. In just 52 seconds, he demolished ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai with a devastating calf kick knockout that sent shockwaves through the striking world. Now, another dangerous test awaits him in the form of Pereira.
The 26-year-old Venezuelan has been flawless since arriving in ONE Championship, extending his professional record to 40-1 with back-to-back wins. This matchup pits Liu's explosive power and precision against Pereira's relentless aggression—a classic striker's duel that could steal the show.
The Inner Circle streams live exclusively on live.onefc.com from Bangkok's iconic Lumpinee Stadium. With or without the title fight, this card is stacked with potential fight-of-the-night contenders. Whether you're a fan of Muay Thai or kickboxing, May 22 is a must-watch.