Youssef Assouik has discovered something unsettling about himself during his ONE Championship tenure, and Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong may suffer the consequences when they collide in lightweight Muay Thai warfare this Friday.
The Danish-Moroccan striker will unleash a deliberately more aggressive version of himself at ONE Fight Night 34 on Prime Video, broadcasting live from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium on August 1. His cautious promotional debut has been replaced by calculated violence designed to announce his ONE World Championship intentions.
Assouik’s October introduction against Sinsamut Klinmee served as uncomfortable reconnaissance rather than true competition. The former two-division ISKA World Champion spent three rounds learning the brutal mathematics of 4-ounce gloves while securing a unanimous decision victory through measured technique.
That educational phase has concluded. The 30-year-old veteran now understands exactly how much damage those smaller gloves can inflict, and he plans to weaponize that knowledge against his dangerous Thai opponent.
“This time I will change my style. I will be more aggressive,” Assouik explained. “Last time, I moved a lot to check how much damage I can get from the small gloves and everything. But this time, my plan is to be a more aggressive Youssef.”

The transformation reflects deeper confidence born from experience rather than reckless abandon. His Denmark-based preparation has focused on maximizing the destructive potential that ONE’s glove requirements provide, turning defensive curiosity into offensive certainty.
Rungrawee represents the perfect test subject for this violent evolution. The southpaw powerhouse has built his reputation through bone-crushing leg kicks and technical precision that has troubled some of the lightweight division’s most established names. His “Legatron” nickname reflects the devastating power that emanates from his left side.
Those credentials don’t intimidate Assouik, whose diverse striking background includes experience against bigger names and more dangerous opponents. The former WMC World Champion believes his tactical flexibility provides multiple pathways to victory regardless of Rungrawee’s southpaw advantages.
“I know he’s a southpaw. So I have to focus on his left hand and left leg,” he said. “I fight in both stances. I am a southpaw, and I’m orthodox. So I can fight him southpaw against southpaw or orthodox against southpaw. I’m ready for everything.”
This calculated confidence extends beyond simple technical preparation into championship ambition that transforms Friday’s contest into something approaching audition. Regian Eersel’s lightweight title defense against George Jarvis headlines the same card, creating perfect positioning for impressive contenders to announce their readiness.
A dominant performance against Rungrawee would deliver the statement Assouik needs to enter the World Title conversation. The belt represents his ultimate motivation, driving preparation that has reached obsessive levels.
“I want the belt. I am ready for everyone because I want the belt,” he declared.
The Lumpinee Stadium setting adds emotional weight that transcends simple competitive opportunity. Fighting inside the “Mecca of Muay Thai” represents career validation for someone who has dedicated his life to perfecting the art.
“This moment is interesting for me because I have trained and fought Muay Thai all my life,” Assouik reflected. “So for me, fighting at Lumpinee makes a lot of emotions for me.”
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