The 21-year-old Thai striker will end her competitive drought when she faces Bulgarian challenger Teodora Kirilova in atomweight Muay Thai action at ONE Fight Night 34: Eersel vs. Jarvis on Prime Video in U.S. primetime on August 1.

“Supergirl” spent her time away from competition orchestrating a bold family business venture that saw her entire support system relocate 850 kilometers south from Thailand’s capital to the resort island of Phuket.

The ambitious project began when Jaroonsak recognized her parents needed a new chapter after decades of grinding in Bangkok’s competitive gym scene. Having devoted their lives to nurturing their daughter’s Muay Thai journey, the veteran trainers deserved an opportunity to build something of their own.

Phuket offered more than just a change of scenery for the young fighter, who had battled health complications from Bangkok’s notorious air quality. The tropical environment provided immediate relief from the respiratory issues that had plagued her training sessions in the capital.

“We moved to Phuket to open a gym because we saw that there are a lot of fighters here, and the weather is much better. In Bangkok, I had air pollution allergies,” she said. “It was a huge decision, one I thought about for about a year. I wanted them to finally get some rest, so I told them to leave their jobs, and we all moved to Phuket.”

The family’s new training facility launched on New Year’s Day and has steadily attracted students drawn to its personalized approach. With her boyfriend joining the southward migration, the operation maintains tight-knit dynamics that set it apart from commercial fight camps.

Jaroonsak has embraced roles ranging from financial management to promotional duties, gaining business acumen while rediscovering her competitive fire. The responsibilities have provided therapeutic focus during a period when social media criticism had damaged her mental wellbeing.

Her father anchors the coaching staff with traditional knowledge accumulated over decades in Thailand’s Muay Thai heartland. Their philosophy prioritizes long-term athlete development over quick profits, creating genuine mentoring relationships with each trainee.

The extended break from competition allowed Jaroonsak to process the psychological toll that online negativity had inflicted on her career enjoyment. Running the gym has restored her confidence while proving that success extends beyond individual achievements.

“My dad is the main coach. The main selling point of our gym is definitely our coaches. We want the gym to feel like a family, not just a place to train,” she said. “Before, fighting was fun for me, but when the negative comments started coming in, it just wasn’t enjoyable anymore. Taking a break and working on the gym really helped.”

READ MORE: ONE Friday Fights 117: Full Card and How To Watch

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ONE has confirmed that Sunday, 16th November, will see the promotion return to Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, with another blockbuster card featuring the globe’s elite combat sports athletes expected to light up the venue once again. 

Japan has become a fortress for ONE Championship’s marquee events, consistently delivering unforgettable spectacles that showcase the very best of mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, and kickboxing. 

The promotion’s most recent Japanese expedition came in March with ONE 172: Rodtang vs. Takeru, at the legendary Saitama Super Arena, where 15,000 roaring fans generated a gate exceeding US$2 million. 

That card delivered fireworks from start to finish, headlined by former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon’s devastating 80-second annihilation of Takeru Segawa that left the Japanese crowd stunned. 

The home faithful found their voice when Yuya Wakamatsu finally clinched the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship by bulldozing through multiple-time flyweight MMA king Adriano Moraes to claim the throne in the opening frame. 

Masaaki Noiri shocked the world also shocked the world that night. He knocked out featherweight Muay Thai king Tawanchai PK Saenchai in the third round to become the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion. 

Ariake Arena previously hosted ONE Championship magic in January 2023 at ONE 165, where ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 weathered a storm from Japanese sensation and promotional debutant Takeru Segawa. 

“The Kicking Machine” showcased his championship mettle across five gruelling rounds, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory despite Takeru’s best efforts to dethrone the Thai king. 

ONE Championship’s Japanese ventures have become synonymous with explosive action and unforgettable moments, a tradition set to continue with an increasingly impressive roster of Japanese stars including K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza, Kaito, and Nadaka Yoshinari. 

Fight announcements for ONE 173 are anticipated in the coming weeks. The pre-sale ticket lottery is currently live and gives fans the chance to purchase tickets before July’s general release, allowing them to select up to 10 tickets per application.  

Fans selected through the lottery will receive a link to their mailbox. The chance-based system is open until Wednesday, 18^th June and winners will receive a notification on Saturday, 21^st June. You can sign up for the pre-sale lottery ticket here.  

READ MORE: Flyweight and Bantamweight Muay Thai divisions are vacant in ONE: Who will be the next champions?

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“Hitman” has been a leading figure in Muay Thai for over two decades in Great Britain, and when he speaks, people listen. 

Harrison has seen an influx of his compatriots join the world’s largest martial arts organisation lately. And, having competed for the first time in the UK earlier this year, the 39-year-old would like to do battle in front of a hometown crowd again under the ONE banner before he hangs up his gloves. 

“I still think there’s the chance to build an incredible card,” he buzzed.

“I could fight, the Haggerty brothers could fight, Nico [Carrillo] can too. So could George Jarvis and Liam Nolan. The talent is all there, and they could do serious numbers. I just don’t know how long it takes to make moves like that. But I hope they can do that before I retire.”

ONE fightmakers would have many local stars to choose from if the promotion were to line up a debut show in the UK, with one battle in particular already having garnered interest.

England’s own Jonathan Haggerty and Scottish sensation Nico Carrillo have both proven themselves as known quantities over the last few years, with the former currently holding the bantamweight kickboxing strap and the latter sitting pretty as the #3-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender.

The pair seemed destined to square off, which would have served as a perfect headliner for a hypothetical ONE Championship show, until Carrillo moved to featherweight, where he dominated Sitthichai at ONE Fight Night 30 this past April.

Though Harrison believes “King of the North” may have found a new home at featherweight, he is confident that his countrymen will continue to bring fire whenever they enter the ONE ring. 

“[Carrillo] looked like an animal against Sitthichai, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he does there. Jon’s bantamweight through and through. So I think the ship has sailed now,” he said. 

“I think they can both do great things in their divisions.”

With nothing on the books for ONE Championship in the UK just yet, fans can only dream of the card it would present. But one thing is certain – it would be stacked with homegrown talents like Harrison, Haggerty, and Carrillo, to name a few.

READ MORE: Watch: Andrew Tate Steamrolls 60 men in wild sparring

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De Ridder earned his third consecutive stoppage victory in the UFC this past Saturday, 3rd May, when he stopped promotional upstart Bo Nickal in the second round of their middleweight encounter. 

As the only man to beat “The Dutch Knight,” having stripped him of the light-heavyweight gold in December 2022 and the middleweight crown in March 2024, Malykhin is familiar with De Ridder’s talents. 

“Sladkiy” credits the 34-year-old and cites him as a genuine threat in any organisation. Nonetheless, he says the world should remember what happened when they collided. 

“Reinier de Ridder is a fighter who can become champion in any league. He’s a serious threat in any division,” Malykhin said.  

“But when you see De Ridder winning belts, just remember that Anatoly Malykhin already dealt with him. And dominated him.” 

Both De Ridder and Malykhin built their stock fighting far from the UFC’s market, reaching the top of the mountain in Asia-based ONE Championship.

As such, many fans in the West are only now being exposed to De Ridder, and Malykhin believes this proves that great MMA fighters exist worldwide and not just on the UFC’s roster.

“I’ve been saying this for a long time – the best fighters aren’t only in the UFC. Sure, they have great talent, but so do other promotions. The UFC was just the first major promotion to hit the market, and it got the most hype – that’s why people assume it has all the best guys,” he said.  

“But I’ve trained with many UFC fighters, and honestly, they’re just regular fighters, regular people. You can beat them, and they can beat you. Every league has exceptional athletes. The elite is everywhere.” 

READ MORE: Eddie Hall Reveals His Side Of The Story Amidst Rage Controversy

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Main Event: Tawanchai P.K.Saenchai vs. Superbon Singha Mawynn

At the heart of ONE 170 is a rematch for which fans have been clamoring – Tawanchai P.K.Saenchai defending his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship against Superbon Singha Mawynn. Their first bout was a technical showcase, with Tawanchai securing a majority decision, but this rematch has all the makings of a classic.

Tawanchai’s striking is a blend of power and precision, with a notable ability to switch stances and adapt mid-fight. His previous performance against Superbon showed his growth, particularly in defensive tactics and counterstriking. However, Superbon, known for his devastating kicks and history as the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion, has had time to analyze and adapt. His experience in kickboxing might give him an edge in terms of distance management, which was crucial in their last encounter. This fight could very well hinge on Superbon’s ability to keep Tawanchai at range versus Tawanchai’s capacity to close the distance and unleash his combinations.

Co-Main Event: Fabricio Andrade vs. Kwon Won Il

The co-main event features Fabricio Andrade defending his ONE Bantamweight MMA World Championship against Kwon Won Il, a rematch that promises to be electric. Their first fight ended in a knockout victory for Andrade, but Kwon has since shown significant improvement, particularly in his striking.

Andrade, with his fluid, Muay Thai-based striking and ground game, has proven to be a formidable champion. His ability to switch from striking to grappling seamlessly adds layers to his already complex fighting style. However, Kwon has been on a mission to refine his game, especially his takedown defense, which was a vulnerability in their last encounter. This fight might come down to whether Kwon can keep it standing where he’s more confident, or if Andrade can utilize his grappling to secure another victory.

Interim Title Fight: Nico Carrillo vs. Nabil Anane

With Superlek Kiatmoo9 out due to injury, an interim ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship fight has been set between Nico Carrillo and Nabil Anane. This bout adds intrigue due to the contrasting styles; Carrillo, known for his aggressive, forward-moving pressure, versus Anane’s more technical, tactical approach.

Carrillo’s rise has been meteoric, with his knockout power being his biggest asset. However, Anane, significantly younger and with an impressive record in Muay Thai and kickboxing, could surprise with his speed and precision. This fight’s outcome will likely dictate the future of the division, making it a critical contest for both fighters’ careers.

Other Notable Fights:

• Johan Ghazali vs. Johan Estupinan: A matchup of two rising stars in the flyweight division. Ghazali’s striking prowess against Estupinan’s well-rounded game should produce fireworks.
• Saeksan Or. Kwanmuang vs. Soe Lin Oo: This fight is particularly interesting due to the clash of styles between Saeksan’s Muay Thai artistry and Soe Lin Oo’s raw power from Lethwei, a Burmese form of bare-knuckle boxing.
• Marcelo Garcia vs. Masakazu Imanari in Submission Grappling: A battle of grappling titans, where Garcia’s legendary jiu-jitsu meets Imanari’s unique leg lock game. This match could be a showcase of technique over brute strength.
• Maurice Abévi vs. Samat Mamedov: Originally scheduled for ONE 168, this fight can potentially steal the show, with both fighters known for their finishing capabilities.

Analysis and Expectations:

ONE 170 is not just about the main events; it’s a card stacked with potential upsets, breakout performances, and fights that could shape the future of the divisions involved. The diversity in martial arts disciplines ensures that there’s something for every fight fan, from the technical finesse of Muay Thai to the strategic depth of MMA and the pure grappling of submission matches.

The narrative threads of redemption, championship aspirations, and the clash of old versus new guard run through this card. Superbon’s chance at redemption against Tawanchai, Kwon’s opportunity to prove his growth against Andrade, and the interim title fight’s implications for the bantamweight Muay Thai division are just the tip of the iceberg.

Moreover, the event’s setting in Bangkok adds an extra layer of excitement, with the local crowd likely to be electric, especially for fights involving Thai fighters like Tawanchai and Saeksan.

In terms of predictions, while the outcomes are never certain, the preparation and mindset of each fighter will be crucial. Watching how each adapts to their opponent’s style live could reveal new layers to their skills and perhaps even alter the landscape of ONE Championship for 2025. ONE 170 is not just a night of fights; it’s a showcase of martial arts at its pinnacle, promising to leave fans discussing the outcomes long after the final bell.

READ MORE: Conor McGregor Blames UFC for Logan Paul Fight Being Canceled

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Chatri Sityodtong, the CEO of ONE Championship, has recently shared his promotion has organically grown the most for engaging with the viewers on Facebook. And that isn’t compared to combat sports, but every sport.

Chatri Sityodtong’s LinkedIn profile describes him as ‘a self-made entrepreneur and lifelong martial artist from Thailand. His rags-to-riches life story has inspired millions around the world on BBC, CNN, Bloomberg TV, CNBC, and other major media. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Group ONE Holdings (ONE), Asia’s largest billion dollar global sports media platform in history with a broadcast to 150+ countries around the world.’

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yodchatri/?originalSubdomain=sg

What is ONE Championship, and why is it so popular?

ONE Championship is a kickboxing, Muay Thai and mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in Singapore. It was founded on the 14th July 2011 by entrepreneur Chatri Sityodtong and former ESPN executive Victor Cui.

ONE Championship has hosted over 100 events and signed many of the best fighters around the globe. ONE Championship has its divisions in MMA, Kickboxing and Muay Thai, each with its rankings and champions. Like with every combat sports promotion, they twist things to make them different from the rest.

The ‘About Us’ section on ONE Championshiup’s website suggests that they are:

‘Asia’s largest global sports media platform with a broadcast to 150+ countries around the world. According to Nielsen, ONE ranks amongst the world’s top 10 biggest sports media properties for viewership and engagement. Through its marquee sports properties (ONE Championship and ONE Esports) and its passionate millennial community, ONE is a celebration of Asia’s greatest cultural phenomena, Martial Arts and Gaming, and the deep-rooted Asian values of integrity, humility, honor, respect, courage, discipline, and compassion.’

Source: https://groupone-holdings.com/#senior-leadership

What is ONE Championship known for?

ONE Championship is known for their Caged Muay Thai.

Caged Muay Thai is precisely what it says on the tin. Muay Thai fights in a cage, yet with 4oz MMA gloves.

Read our full article ‘What is Caged Muay Thai?’ here: https://sidekickboxing.co.uk/what-is-caged-muay-thai/

Using 4oz MMA gloves in Muay Thai will undoubtedly make the fights more explosive. The changing of the gloves will make the fighters have to change their style to accommodate the different gloves they are used to.

The 4oz MMA gloves are much smaller than boxing gloves, so fighters won’t be able to block on cover-up as easily. MMA gloves also have a lot less padding to pack a lot more punch.

ONE Championship Rules and Rankings

There are individual rankings for the MMA, kickboxing and Muay Thai bouts, each with their weight classes. Each fighter will need to fight other ONE Championship ranked fighters to work their way up.

Each bout will be three rounds of five minutes per round, with a ONE-minute break between rounds.

Championship bouts will be five rounds of five minutes per round, with a ONE-minute break between rounds.

As with the ongoing concerns with fighters cutting drastic amounts of weight, ONE Championship has put a new process in place to stop their signed fighters from risking serious injury through losing weight by dehydration.

Their new program is a continuous effort to focus on the safety of their fighters by introducing “walking-weight” competition via multiple weigh-ins and tests before and during fight week.

A fighter’s “walking-weight” will be determined by a robust system that tracks their weight regularly throughout the athlete’s contract to ONE Championship.

What are the ONE Championship Weight Classes?

The ONE Championship weight classes are:

1. Heavyweight: 102.2 KG – 120.2 KG
2. Light heavyweight: 93.1 KG – 102.1 KG
3. Middleweight: 84.0 KG – 93.0 KG
4. Welterweight: 77.2 KG – 83.9 KG
5. Lightweight: 70.4 KG – 77.1 KG
6. Featherweight: 65.9 KG – 70.3 KG
7. Bantamweight: 61.3 KG – 65.8 KG
8. Flyweight: 56.8 KG – 61.2 KG
9. Strawweight: 52.3 KG – 56.7 KG
10. Atomweight: 47.7 KG – 52.2 KG

ONE Championship Fights

In each fighting style, they all have their own rules. Unless it states otherwise, a fight is usually an MMA bout. In the MMA bouts, it has globally standardised MMA rules.

It is fought in a cage with MMA gloves over 3 x 5-minute rounds. In the ONE Championship kickboxing, they still use 10oz boxing gloves, no elbows are allowed, and a championship fight is 5×3 minute rounds.

Watch the championship fight below:

In the ONE ONE Championship, Muay Thai elbows and clinching are also allowed.

There are many amazing fights in ONE Championship; however, there is a particular favourite to us. That is John Wayne Parr (JWP) vs Neiky Holzen.

JWP is a Muay Thai legend with over 150 fights under his belt.

Niky is a superstar kickboxer and ranked ONE of the best in the world. It would be an epic fight as it was not just about a clash of styles, but legends too.

It went to show the bravery of John Wayne Parr as not only did he travel to Singapore on his own, but he also wasn’t long recovering from major surgery.

Unfortunately for JWP, it wasn’t his night as he suffered a vicious knockout when Holzken knocked him out with a high kick.

Women in ONE Championship

Women compete more and more in combat sports, so it is essential also to have a platform dedicated to them. ONE Championship has a women’s fight division.

They have the Strawweight and Atomweight weight classes. ONE of their top signed female fighters is Stamp Fairtex, who is ranked either 1 or 2 in all three styles of MMA, kickboxing and Muay Thai in the Atomweight division and has already previously won the Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Titles.

The stamp is not done yet. She is gunning for a potential third World Title in mixed martial arts, and above all, she wants to show that women can be just as strong, entertaining, and exciting as men.

Check out the fight between Supergirl vs. Ekaterina Vandaryeva | ONE Championship Full Fight below for a taste of the action:

The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition

Sixteen candidates from all over the world competed in a high-stakes game involving business and physical challenges for a chance to become ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong’s protégé.

Final Thoughts

ONE Championship has certainly made waves in the combat sports industry, with many fans believing they have more potent strikers in the lighter divisions than the UFC.

What do you prefer: ONE Championship or UFC?

Leave a comment on our Facebook post here.

READ MORE: UFC: The World’s No1 MMA Promotion

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