Black Panther Aims To Extend Win Streak To Five Against Diego Paez At ONE Fight Night 40
Black Panther spent nearly two years watching opportunities pass while leg and knee injuries kept him sidelined, interrupting what should have been a steady climb through ONE Championship’s flyweight Muay Thai division. The setbacks tested his patience and fueled a deeper hunger that manifested explosively when he stepped in on short notice last November — flattening Johan Estupinan with three knockdowns to secure a second-round TKO at bantamweight.
Now the 26-year-old Thai striker returns fully healthy and riding a four-fight winning streak when he faces Colombian-American fighter Diego Paez at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video on Friday, February 13, live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. With the ONE flyweight Muay Thai throne currently vacant, every performance carries added weight — and Black Panther understands another statement victory could move him into serious title contention.
“I’m facing Diego this time, and I’m not worried,” Black Panther said. “I’m never scared of fighting foreigners. I have total faith that our Muay Thai is world-class and can’t be beaten. Diego fights a bit like an MMA striker — good hands, fast footwork, and heavy low kicks. He looked solid defensively when he beat Johan Ghazali, but his defense won’t be a problem for me. I can fight going forward or off the back foot. I’m not scared of that style — I’ve got elite sparring partners at my gym who fight exactly like that.”
The confidence stems from more than just bravado. After suffering a setback in his promotional debut, Black Panther has rattled off four consecutive wins with his last two coming by stoppage. First, he flattened Ali Saldoev via head-kick knockout in the second round, then delivered his star-making performance against Estupinan while moving up a weight class on short notice.
Now returning to flyweight and back in full camp, the Team Mehdi Zatout affiliate believes this represents the most complete version of himself yet. Three months of preparation have sharpened every weapon in his arsenal — punches, kicks, knees, and elbows all refined through calculated training designed to maximize his finishing ability.
“I’ve been in camp for nearly three months for this one,” Black Panther explained. “Prep has been much better than my last few fights. I’m coming in with every weapon — punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. I’m looking to end it with any of them. I’m hunting for that bonus, too. I want to build a house for my family. A bonus would be life-changing for us.”
The Thai striker has built a reputation for reading opponents quickly and adjusting in real time. He knows Paez brings confidence after edging teenage sensation Ghazali last June, but Black Panther plans to dictate the pace and close the show in a decisive way — whether through forward pressure or calculated counters depends entirely on what his opponent provides.
“If it doesn’t end in a knockout, it’s definitely going to be an exciting war,” Black Panther said. “It depends on the situation. If he backs up, I’ll press. If he comes forward, I’ll counter. The moment I see an opening, I’m closing the show.”
Instead of allowing frustration to consume him during his injury layoff, Black Panther stayed in the gym and trained daily as if a fight was always around the corner. That preparation proved prophetic when the short-notice opportunity materialized in November, allowing him to prove the time away hadn’t dulled his tools whatsoever.
“Looking back at my last fight against Johan, I think I performed way better than people expected,” Black Panther recalled. “A lot of people thought that since I’d been away for so long, my cardio or my rhythm would be off. But honestly, being away from the ring for nearly two years just lit a fire under me. It made me hungrier. I wanted that knockout so bad, and I actually pulled it off. Now that I’m back and fighting regularly, I’m hungrier and stronger than ever. No injuries are holding me back. My confidence for this fight is higher than it’s ever been. Camp was perfect.”
The stakes extend beyond simply extending his winning streak. Black Panther sees Friday as another step toward the flyweight elite, with his sights set on breaking into the divisional rankings by year’s end.
“I think this is the most important fight of my ONE career,” Black Panther said. “A win here makes it five in a row. I’m going to leave it all out there. My goal for 2026 is to break into the rankings. I’m not looking at the title shot just yet, but if I can get into that top five, I’ll be proud. This is my third fight on the ONE global stage, and I’m going to give it my all to get into the ranking.”
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