Something has to give at The Inner Circle on Friday, May 22, when the fluid brilliance of Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri meets the unyielding power of Kiamran Nabati.

This pivotal bantamweight Muay Thai main event goes down live in Asia primetime from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, available exclusively to members at live.onefc.com.

Yod-IQ has proven to be one of the sport’s most technically sound tacticians. The Thai sensation paid his dues on the weekly circuit to amass an 11-1 promotional record, culminating in a breakthrough first-round knockout of Alexey Balyko to secure a six-figure contract. 

Nabati, however, brings a flawless 22-0 professional record and a reputation for absolute destruction. Following a devastating knockout of Suablack Tor Pran49 and a surgical victory over former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama, the returning Russian has a major point to prove.

Here is what each man must do to keep their momentum going on Friday. 

#1 Yod-IQ’s Technical Muay Femur Precision

Yod-IQ’s game centers on surgical precision, fluid movement, and calculated defense. The slick tactician shares a competitive lineage with his training partner and close friend, reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai.

A master of range, his stabbing teep and stiff jab act as premier distance-management tools. He commands the perimeter of the ring to ensure his technical advantages are constantly maximized.

That immense length also doubles as a deadly finishing weapon. In his high-stakes rematch with Balyko at ONE Friday Fights 137, the PK Saenchai Muaythaigym product secured his redemption with a picture-perfect head kick knockout.

The setup was textbook muay femur style, using subtle feints to draw his adversary forward before launching the fight-ending strike. Nabati thrives on dictating the pace, but if Yod-IQ commands the distance, the Russian’s power is effectively neutralized.

#2 Nabati’s Relentless Pressure And Dynamite Left Hand

Nabati’s defining quality is his punishing forward aggression the moment the opening bell rings. He immediately smothers his opponents and forces heavy exchanges.

He has been absolute kryptonite for his Thai counterparts. Nabati’s chaotic, punch-heavy offense leaves zero room to breathe, making him a stylistic nightmare devoid of traditional pattern recognition. 

After blitzing opponents with combinations, he brilliantly sets up his left-hand missile to showcase his one-shot knockout power. He displayed this perfectly in his contract-winning finish of Suablack, where he cut off the ring immediately and landed a devastating left-hand combination.

Yod-IQ is a typical Thai warrior who likes to use the early rounds to gauge his opponent’s timing and speed. However, the undefeated Russian employs a suffocating pressure that directly counters that measured start, forcing immediate action.

#3 Yod-IQ’s Ring IQ And Adaptability

Yod-IQ is a brilliant kinetic chess player who constantly adjusts round by round. Training alongside Tawanchai and the world-class athletes at PK Saenchai Muaythaigym has elevated his tactical acumen to a world-beating level. 

Despite his youth, the 24-year-old Thai already boasts a staggering 126-36 career record and has faced every stylistic puzzle imaginable. He expertly reads his opponents’ rhythms, and the longer the fight goes, the more his tactical brilliance compounds.

He showed exactly how well he understands the intricacies of the sport when he neutralized power puncher Abdulla “Smash Boy” Dayakaev. Through intelligent lateral movement and pinpoint counter-striking, he completely dismantled his dangerous opponent.

The Buriram native excels at defusing physically imposing juggernauts without trading power for power. Nabati brings that exact forward-moving aggression to the ring, but it’s a familiar puzzle the young maestro has solved many times before. 

#4 Nabati’s Clinch And Close-Range Damage

Nabati finds massive success against high-level Thai opposition because of his extensive knowledge of the clinch game. His most effective work comes in the pocket, where he operates as a suffocating close-quarters specialist.

He is a master at initiating these chaotic entanglements and engineering his escape. Against Avatar PK Saenchai, the Archangel Michel representative repeatedly breached the guard to score two rapid-fire knockdowns in the final minute. 

Nabati displayed that same phone booth mastery against Nong-O, who is widely considered one of the best defensive fighters in the history of the sport. 

Yod-IQ will no doubt lean heavily on his reach advantage to keep the action on the outside. However, if the 31-year-old can reliably get inside and make the exchanges dirty, the Thai’s technical advantages will quickly diminish as that fight-ending power takes over.

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Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri has wiped his slate clean, secured a highly coveted main-roster contract, and now he is ready to use an undefeated Russian destroyer as his elevator to the absolute top of the division.

The PK Saenchai Muay Thai Gym standout returns to face Kiamran Nabati in a high-stakes bantamweight Muay Thai main event at The Inner Circle on Friday, May 22. The blockbuster spectacle streams live exclusively for members on live.onefc.com from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 24-year-old Buriram native, who first laced up a pair of Muay Thai gloves at just 7 years old, carries a remarkable 126-36 professional record and an 11-1 promotional ledger into this contest. He enters this matchup riding a spectacular nine-fight winning streak that has firmly established him as one of the most feared bantamweight strikers on the ONE Championship roster.

The moment that defined his recent journey came at ONE Friday Fights 137 last December when he landed a lightning-fast head kick to knock out Alexey Balyko — a devastating finish that definitively avenged his only promotional loss.

That single technique, painstakingly honed in training alongside ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai and his elite teammates, meant far more to the 24-year-old than just a viral highlight-reel moment.

Speaking to onefc.com, Yod-IQ reflected on what that massive victory meant to him:

“In my last fight against Alexey, I was so happy to close the show with that head kick. It wasn’t just about the thrill of the win; it was about unlocking everything. He was the only person who had left a stain on my record.

“Getting that knockout win back felt like I finally cleared my history and have a clean slate again.”

What followed the knockout made the evening even more unforgettable.

ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong awarded Yod-IQ a six-figure main-roster contract. For a fighter who had fiercely battled criticism throughout his career, it was a moment of pure, unadulterated vindication.

He explained:

“When they announced that the boss just gave me a contract on stage, I was stunned. I was just thinking, ‘Wait, did I really just get it?’ Before this, I was constantly criticized for having a boring style — people said they wanted to turn off the TV when I fought. I had to fight through so much negativity.

“I believe boss Chatri gave me the contract partly because of that beautiful head kick, and partly because of the fans who cheered so loud when I asked for their support that day.”

Now comes Nabati. The 31-year-old Russian sensation out of Archangel Michael carries a perfect 22-0 professional record and has gone four-for-four inside ONE against world-class Thai opposition.

Explosive, precise, and thoroughly tested at the highest level, he is the exact kind of opponent that separates mere contenders from genuine World Title challengers.

Yod-IQ accepted the massive challenge without a moment’s hesitation, and he arrives with a crystal-clear strategy for slowing the Russian powerhouse down.

He said:

“Even though it’s a massive challenge, I accepted the fight immediately because I want to test my level. I’ve already got a plan to handle his punches, but I’ll have to force him to be the one walking into me so I don’t play into his game.

“My only real advantage is that I’m ‘fresher’ — he’s been out for a year, while I’ve been fighting consistently. I should be faster, and I’m going to throw every Muay Thai weapon in the book at him.”

Yod-IQ Has A Message For His Toughest Test Yet

Yod-IQ did not shy away from admitting that the name Kiamran Nabati gave him immediate pause.

The Thai standout has built a fearsome reputation for defeating Russian opponents, but even he acknowledged that Nabati occupies an entirely different tier. Studying the challenger’s footage revealed a technically complete martial artist with very few visible gaps, and Yod-IQ was not about to pretend otherwise.

He said:

“I’ll admit, when I heard his name, I was a bit shocked. I thought to myself, ‘Are they trying to keep me from rising up?’ (laughs). Kiamran is incredibly talented and highly skilled. He’s probably the toughest Russian fighter I’ve ever faced.

“His lead hook is lightning fast, and his combinations are terrifying. I can barely see any weaknesses in his game.”

Yet for all the immense respect Yod-IQ carries for his opponent, there is absolutely no confusion about the role he intends for Nabati to play on May 22.

The Thai rising star has a direct message for the undefeated Russian, and it is delivered with a smile, and an iron will behind it.

He concluded:

“To Kiamran, I’ve always respected you as an idol and a teacher in this sport. But now that we’re meeting in the ring, I will treat you as an elevator, I’m definitely not going to be a walkover.

“I am the ‘Russian Slayer,’ and for this fight, I’d like to ask you to be the elevator that takes me to the world-class level!”

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