Fighting out of Bangkok, Thailand, Panpayak “The Angel Warrior” Jitmuangnon, 22, has earned his first victory in ONE Championship’s striking only league ONE Super Series. He was one of the winners at “ONE: Destiny of Champions” on December 7, 2018 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“ONE: Destiny of Champions” featured seven mixed martial arts matches and four Muay Thai contests. In the fourth bout of the evening, of Bangkok, Thailand, Panpayak faced Rui Botelho, 24, of Lisbon, Portugal in a Muay Thai bout in the flyweight division.
A multiple-time Muay Thai titlist, Panpayak did not disappoint in his highly anticipated debut on the ONE Super Series stage. He outclassed Botelho, who is a World Kickboxing Association European Champion.
All throughout, Panpayak was dominant as he rattled Botelho with stinging kicks to the midsection and even scored a knockdown in the second round with a roundhouse kick. The Portuguese fighter managed to keep the bout competitive in the third and final frame but his Thai opponent remained dynamic in landing his shots.
After three three-minute rounds, the Muay Thai flyweight contest between Panpayak and Botelho was left in the hands of the judges. In the end, referee Atsushi Onari raised the hand of the Thai contender, who was declared the winner via unanimous decision.
Winning at “ONE: Destiny of Champions” improved Panpayak’s professional record to 244 wins, 40 losses and 3 draws. On the other hand, Botelho now has 17 wins, 8 losses and 2 draws.
Panpayak is training out of the Jitmuangnon Gym in Bangkok. He is the first fighter to win the Sports Writers of Thailand Fighter of the Year award three consecutive times.
Including Panpayak, there were three Thai fighters on the “ONE: Destiny of Champions” card. The other two were Yodsanklai “The Hero” IWE Fairtex, 32, and Petchmorrakot Petchyindee Academy, 24.
For more photos from the bout between Mahmoud and Mikkios, visit Top Sports Asia. Meanwhile, watch all the “ONE: Destiny of Heroes” bouts here:
Categories: SPORTS