Decho Banks on Cardio to Outlast Pompet’s Power at ONE Friday Fights 138
Decho Por Borirak headlines his third consecutive ONE Friday Fights card on January 16 with a clear game plan — survive the early storm, exploit the late fade, secure the contract-earning victory that positions him one step closer to a life-changing opportunity.
The 22-year-old Thai striker faces Pompet PongSuphan PK in the ONE Friday Fights 138 main event, a flyweight Muay Thai clash that kicks off ONE Championship’s 2026 schedule. Victory brings Decho closer to the six-figure contract and global roster spot that defines success in the weekly series.
His path to this moment included a detour through adversity. After claiming two early wins over Isannuea ChotBangsaen, he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Suriyanlek Por Yenying at ONE Friday Fights 124 last September. The defeat could have derailed momentum. Instead, it provided the blueprint for improvement.
One month later, their rematch at ONE Friday Fights 131 delivered redemption through careful adjustments and disciplined execution. Decho earned a solid three-round decision that impressed ringside judges and erased doubt about his ability to learn from setbacks.
“I’d give myself a seven out of ten for my last fight,” Decho said. “The result turned out okay, but it wasn’t my best work. I managed to get the win because we had a solid game plan. My trainer and I looked at why I lost to him before, we made the right adjustments, and it played out exactly how we practiced.”
The self-assessment reveals maturity beyond his 22 years. Victories matter, but understanding why victories happen matters more when climbing through a division stacked with talent.
Pompet enters riding crucial momentum after back-to-back wins over Yodlekpet Or Atchariya and Scottish knockout artist Gregor Thom. The 27-year-old brings match-ending power and a decorated 109-47 career record. His hands present genuine danger throughout three rounds.
But Decho’s recent experience with Suriyanlek — a fighter carrying similar power — has provided the confidence needed to handle whatever Pompet brings on Friday night.
“I’m not too worried about the size difference because our frames are pretty similar,” Decho said. “As for the power, I’ve shared the ring with Suriyanlek and handled his heat, so I’m not concerned. If there’s an opening to trade, I’m game. But I’ll be playing it smart and following the plan.”
The plan centers on exploitation rather than survival. Decho has identified Pompet’s tendency to fade late in fights, a weakness that grows more pronounced as rounds accumulate. The deeper Friday’s main event goes, the more advantage shifts toward the younger fighter with superior conditioning.
“From what I’ve seen, he tends to fade a little bit toward the end of the fight,” Decho said. “I think I’ll be the fresher fighter when the fight goes deeper, and I’ll have better recovery. That’s going to be a problem for him because my cardio is on point. I’ve trained to go hard for all three rounds. I’m not going to gas out.”
Victory opens doors. The flyweight Muay Thai division features proven veterans like Rodtang, Superlek, and Nong-O alongside knockout machines like Aslamjon Ortikov, Akif Guluzada, and Johan Ghazali. Friday’s performance determines whether Decho joins that elite tier or returns home hoping for another opportunity.
“If I get past this fight, I’m ready for anyone in this division,” he said. “My main goal for 2026 is to secure that ONE Championship contract.”
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