Aliff Sor Dechapan Receives Backing From Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Ahead Of World Title Fight On July 24
Before The Inner Circle 23 on Friday, hear what the Malaysian Prime Minister had to say about the young star!
By Chris Mohan
Jul 23, 2026, 01:37 UTC
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rallied the nation behind Aliff Sor Dechapan, who stands one victory away from becoming his nation’s first-ever World Champion in ONE Championship.
Aliff will square off against the legendary Sam-A Gaiyanghadao for the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title in the main event of The Inner Circle 23, which goes down live on Friday, July 24.
The card will stream live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, and it will be exclusively available to subscribers at live.onefc.com.
This is not the first time the Prime Minister has thrown his support behind one of Malaysia’s athletes in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Anwar welcomed teenage knockout machine Johan “Jojo” Ghazali to the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya last October, a meeting that underscored his backing for the country’s combat sports scene.
Now, that same support is being extended to Aliff, who stands on the precipice of becoming the first Malaysian ever to hold the coveted ONE World Title belt.
This is no small moment for a country whose presence in the global martial arts community continues to grow at a rapid pace.
Malaysia has produced a wave of promising talent in recent years, but a World Championship has remained just out of reach, making the 22-year-old’s opportunity inside Lumpinee Stadium a potential turning point for the bustling nation.
That significance has clearly not gone unnoticed at the highest levels of government. With the entire country watching, Anwar has chosen to lend his voice publicly in support of Aliff’s bid for history.
The Prime Minister took to his official Instagram account to voice his support for the young gun, urging fellow Malaysians to tune in for what could be a landmark sporting moment in the country.
He wrote:
“Let us rally behind Ahmad Nor Iman Aliff Rakib as he competes for the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship title this Friday.
“Aliff Rakib has made history as the first Malaysian combat athlete to qualify for a shot at this title. May he continue to bring glory to Malaysia and inspire the younger generation to achieve success on a global stage.”
Aliff Dedicates His World Title Dream To Malaysia
Riding that wave of national support, Aliff Sor Dechapan has made it clear his pursuit of gold extends well beyond personal glory.
For an athlete who has carried his country’s flag since debuting on the global stage in April 2023, this opportunity represents something far bigger than his own legacy.
Just days out from the biggest fight of his career, the Sor Dechapan representative made his motivation known to the entire nation watching.
The 22-year-old took to his Instagram account and wrote:
“I am not fighting for myself alone. I am fighting for my country. I have one dream – to bring the belt home and make history.
“I hope for the prayers and support of the entire nation. God willing, I will give my all to become the first fighter to bring that championship home for my country.”
Aliff heads into this monumental ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title clash at The Inner Circle 23 on a five-bout winning streak.
Most recently, the Kuala Lumpur-based star earned the 62nd win of his career with a unanimous decision victory over Ramadan “The Scorpion” Ondash at ONE Fight Night 38 last December.
It also marked the ninth triumph of his promotional campaign, one filled with several knockouts against other world-class fighters.
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao represents his toughest test yet, but few warriors have looked this composed on the doorstep of history.
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