Yod-IQ Erases Lone Blemish To Complete Three-Year Journey Toward Life-Changing ONE Championship Contract
The picture-perfect head kick that ended Alexey Balyko’s night in 52 seconds represented more than redemption for Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri. It served as the exclamation point on nearly three years of relentless dedication through ONE Friday Fights that transformed the 23-year-old Thai striker into Mr. ONE Friday Fights himself.
His spectacular first-round knockout at ONE Friday Fights 137 on December 19 earned the coveted US$100,000 contract with the world’s largest martial arts organization, validating an 11-1 promotional record built through systematically defeating top-tier competition while compiling 126 career victories showcasing explosive punches and devastating kicks.
The journey began in March 2023 when Yod-IQ arrived at ONE Friday Fights 10 carrying 115 professional victories yet still needing to prove himself on ONE’s global stage. Belgium’s Samuel Bielen provided the perfect introduction, falling victim to a crushing elbow strike that announced the PK Saenchai Muaythaigym representative’s arrival in emphatic fashion through the stunning TKO victory.
Momentum continued building three months later against Uzbek veteran Mavlud Tifiyev at ONE Friday Fights 20 in June, where Yod-IQ systematically dismantled experienced opposition with relentless kicking attacks to earn a clear unanimous decision victory. Yet the winning streak came to an abrupt halt in his next appearance when dangerous Russian striker Balyko handed him unanimous decision defeat — his first and only loss in ONE Championship that would haunt him for more than two years.
Resilience defines championship trajectories more than temporary setbacks. Yod-IQ bounced back immediately with a narrow split-decision victory over Ilyas Musaev, closing 2023 on a high note while setting the stage for what would become remarkable 2024 campaign that established him among the division’s most consistent performers.
His 2024 tear began against eight-time Muay Thai World Champion Rafi Bohic, where the Thai striker floored the decorated Frenchman twice with brutal body shots, showcasing devastating power en route to a unanimous decision victory. The winning streak continued in June through knockout rematch victory over Tifiyev, before October brought another statement win as Yod-IQ handed Dagestan-born sensation Abdulla Dayakaev his first promotional defeat via unanimous decision.
The remarkable year closed with a split-decision triumph over Russia’s Kirill Khomutov at ONE Friday Fights 89 in November — a victory holding special significance as Yod-IQ became the only striker in ONE to defeat both Bohic and Dayakaev, two of bantamweight’s most feared names. His five-fight winning streak extended to six in March 2025 through domination of Moldovan challenger Petru Morari, while May brought a convincing unanimous decision victory over battle-tested veteran Brice Delval.
The winning streak reached eight consecutive triumphs at ONE Friday Fights 117 in July when Italian powerhouse Alessio Malatesta stepped into the ring with dreams of derailing the Thai juggernaut. For three brutal rounds both warriors unleashed their entire arsenals in a thrilling striking battle, yet once again Yod-IQ proved superior while extending his remarkable run.
With nine straight victories and the coveted contract tantalizingly close, Yod-IQ made a bold decision for ONE Friday Fights 137 — moving up from bantamweight to featherweight for one specific purpose: avenging his only defeat against Balyko. The rematch unfolded exactly as envisioned when a picture-perfect head kick connected flush on Balyko’s chin, turning the Russian’s lights off instantly in the opening round.
The spectacular knockout not only avenged his lone loss but also earned Yod-IQ the life-changing six-figure contract he’d been pursuing since his promotional debut nearly three years earlier. Now carrying an 11-1 record, nine-fight winning streak, and momentum firmly on his side, Yod-IQ steps onto the global stage as one of the most battle-tested and accomplished athletes to earn a main roster contract.
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