Bampara Kouyate Details Path To Victory Against Shadow in Title Eliminator Clash
Bampara Kouyate approaches his next opportunity with the calculated precision of a chess master, viewing his collision with Shadow Singha Mawynn as an intricate puzzle requiring strategy rather than raw power alone.
The #2-ranked featherweight faces #3-ranked Shadow at ONE Fight Night 35 this Friday, September 5, inside Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium with a likely title shot against Tawanchai PK Saenchai awaiting the victor.
“Fight camp and the fight is always like a chess game,” Kouyate explained. “He’s gonna try to work on my weakness, and I’m gonna try to work on his weakness. We all have weaknesses, we all have advantages.”
The Malian-French striker’s cerebral approach has powered back-to-back knockout victories over elite competition. His first-round TKO of Jo Nattawut at ONE 170 followed his come-from-behind finish of highly touted Luke Lessei, establishing “Bambi” as a legitimate title threat.
Shadow represents his most dangerous test yet. The former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion brings devastating knockout power and over 90 professional fights’ worth of experience into their potential title eliminator.
“He’s a very strong fighter. He has strong kicks, good hands, also. He’s very powerful,” Kouyate said. “He’s top three in ONE Championship, so obviously he’s a good fighter.”
The Team Mehdi Zatout standout’s tall, rangy frame and devastating high kicks create natural advantages, but his sound fight IQ truly sets him apart from other contenders. His approach combines calculated precision with the unmistakable flair of someone who understands combat as art form.
Kouyate’s preparation reflects the magnitude of this moment. His ONE World Title dreams rest on solving the Shadow puzzle while avoiding the devastating elbows and explosive entries that have made the Thai destroyer so dangerous.
“I’m gonna adapt my style to his style. That’s a goal of the fight camp,” he said.
The 30-year-old enters this eliminator understanding that championship opportunities rarely come with guarantees. His complete arsenal provides multiple paths to victory, whether through systematic breakdown or spectacular finish.
“I think I can stop him or win by unanimous decision,” Kouyate concluded. “In Muay Thai, you have a lot of techniques, so it could be elbows, could be punches, could be leg kicks, a lot of things.”
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