The warm-up area inside Tokyo’s Saitama Super Arena in March became the unlikely setting for reconciliation. ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion Phetjeeja stood preparing to defend her throne against Kana Morimoto when Mehdi Zatout approached — the coach she’d left behind months earlier amid misunderstandings that shattered their partnership.

Yet when he began offering advice just like old times, something shifted inside the Thai superstar that would eventually bring her home to Team Mehdi Zatout ahead of her atomweight Muay Thai return against Martyna Dominczak at ONE Fight Night 38: Andrade vs. Baatarkhuu on Prime Video on Friday, December 5, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

That Tokyo moment mattered more than the clinical unanimous decision victory Phetjeeja delivered afterward. The brief reunion in Japan’s capital revealed what the 23-year-old already knew deep down: her heart never truly left Team Mehdi Zatout despite the 2024 departure that sent her to Sor Dechapan Gym searching for a fresh start that never quite materialized.

“When I was fighting in Japan, that’s when I finally got to talk to Mehdi. Before that, we hadn’t talked at all, which left some unfinished business and misunderstandings. When I saw him, it made me miss the time when we took care of each other,” Phetjeeja said. “When I was doing my warm-ups, Mehdi still came over and coached me, just like before. He still cared and gave me advice.”

The October reunion became official. Phetjeeja rejoined the training system that shaped her into a ONE World Champion at precisely the moment she needs it most. Her kickboxing throne sits secure after defeating legends Anissa Meksen and Janet Todd to capture and unify gold, yet a void remains that only a ONE Muay Thai World Title could fill. That pursuit requires the familiar preparation methods learned through struggles and triumphs shared with Zatout, the foundation supporting her champion’s mindset.

“The training system at [Team Mehdi Zatout] is what I was used to and what I trained in the most. So I decided to come back here and train fully,” Phetjeeja said. “Honestly, I missed this place. It’s where I started, where we fought together, where we struggled together, and where I became a champion. I feel that way about this place.”

Her December 5 opponent stands between that dream and reality. Dominczak brings genuine danger alongside identical motivation — a shot at Allycia Hellen Rodrigues’ ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title. The Polish contender’s well-rounded game features fast push kicks to the face backed by powerful weapons across all ranges, creating a puzzle that demands Phetjeeja’s sharpest form after two years away from Muay Thai competition.

Yet this represents the art where the Thai superstar truly excels. Before transitioning to kickboxing, she demolished four consecutive ONE Friday Fights opponents through Muay Thai’s full arsenal, devastating elbows and crushing clinch work that kickboxing rules prohibit. That 4-0 Friday Fights run ended with four finishes, showcasing the ruthless efficiency she plans unleashing again inside Lumpinee Stadium.

“This fight is extremely important because it’s my first Muay Thai fight in two years. Many fans are probably waiting to see my performance. I will try my best to defeat Martyna in the best possible form,” Phetjeeja said.

The stakes elevate beyond simple victory. An impressive finish positions Phetjeeja as Rodrigues’ mandatory challenger, potentially delivering the two-sport supremacy she’s dreamed about since capturing kickboxing gold. Yet Dominczak chases the same prize, creating collision course dynamics where mistakes carry devastating consequences neither can afford.

“Martyna is a very well-rounded fighter. She can walk forward and retreat. Her strength is her very fast push kick to the face. Her other weapons are also very dangerous because she throws them quite powerfully,” Phetjeeja said. “The fight is definitely going to be exciting. The chance of a finish is very high, because she also wants an impressive win to challenge Allycia, just like me. I think if either of us makes a mistake, it could be a knockout.”

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