When Thai living legend Nong-O Hama dropped down to the flyweight division in early 2025, Kongthoranee Sor Sommai was the first man standing at the gates.

Pairing a former eight-time ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion with a three-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion instantly gifted fans a blockbuster rivalry. What followed were two of the most closely contested Muay Thai battles in recent memory, leaving audiences begging for a third chapter.

Now, with the series tied at one win apiece, the Thai superstars are set to collide for the third time at ONE Friday Fights 160 on June 26 inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.

Before the trilogy unfolds in Asia primetime, here is a look back at how this compelling feud reached its boiling point.

The Biggest Win Of Kongthoranee’s Career

Their first meeting took place at ONE Fight Night 28 in February 2025, marking Nong-O’s highly anticipated flyweight debut following his legendary reign at 145 pounds.

While the combat sports world wondered how the longtime king would fare in a new weight class, Kongthoranee stepped into the ring determined to prove he belonged among the flyweight elite.

The 29-year-old Thai started fast. He attacked with a fierce barrage of kicks, elbows, and teeps, forcing Nong-O to work at a pace few opponents had managed to extract from him in recent years. While the Evolve MMA and Superbon Training Camp representative found his footing and fired back in the second round, Kongthoranee surged in the final frame to snatch the momentum back.

After three competitive rounds, Kongthoranee earned a split-decision victory and immediately established himself as a legitimate threat in the division.

For Nong-O, the defeat was a disappointing start to life at flyweight. For Kongthoranee, it was the biggest victory of his ONE Championship career and further validated his status as one of the division’s top contenders.

Nong-O Bites Back In The Rematch

Given the razor-thin margins of the first encounter, an immediate rematch was quickly booked to headline ONE Fight Night 31 just three months later.

This time, Nong-O arrived with a palpable sense of urgency. The seasoned veteran pushed the pace right from the opening bell, applying heavy, steady pressure to prevent Kongthoranee from establishing the comfortable rhythm he found in their first bout.

While Kongthoranee still had his moments of brilliance, Nong-O’s legendary experience and relentless activity ultimately made the difference.

After another closely contested battle, the former bantamweight Muay Thai king secured a unanimous decision victory, leveling the rivalry at 1-1, avenging his earlier loss, and breathing new life into his flyweight campaign.

A Shifting Division And Mirrored Downfalls

Following the rematch, both men seemed poised to make a run at the World Title. Instead, a new wave of hungry contenders crashed the party.

Kongthoranee returned at ONE Fight Night 36 against undefeated Uzbekistani standout Aslamjon Ortikov, suffering a decision loss after being dropped in the second round.

Three months later, he collided with another unbeaten phenom, Russian striker Asadula “The Dagestan Ninja” Imangazaliev, who overwhelmed Kongthoranee with a brutal body attack to score a second-round stoppage.

Strikingly, Nong-O’s path followed the exact same trajectory. After evening the score with Kongthoranee, the Thai legend met Imangazaliev in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 147. The Russian secured a massive breakthrough win, knocking out the former bantamweight Muay Thai titleholder in the second round.

Both veterans found themselves facing the exact same reality: their epic rivalry had cemented them as massive names in the division, but the new generation had effectively used them as gatekeepers to accelerate their own rise to the top.

Those pivotal results propelled Ortikov and Imangazaliev to the front of the line. The two rising stars are now scheduled to battle for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship at The Inner Circle on June 26 — the exact same night Nong-O and Kongthoranee will settle their score.

The World Championship landscape may have shifted, but the personal stakes for this trilogy are greater than ever.

Kongthoranee has a golden opportunity to reaffirm his spot among the elite and prove his initial victory over Nong-O was no fluke. Meanwhile, Nong-O can remind the entire division that even at 39 years old, boasting a staggering 267-59 professional record, he is still an incredibly dangerous threat.

More than anything, this trilogy offers both warriors the chance to secure a defining, legacy-cementing victory just as the flyweight division officially enters a new era.

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