How Mohammad Siasarani Broke Through ONE’s Featherweight Gauntlet To Earn A Life-Changing Contract
The Iranian star's gritty path toward a six-figure promotional deal.
By Fachrul Sidiq
Dec 22, 2025, 22:52 UTC
Mohammad Siasarani arrived in ONE Championship as a warrior shaped by resistance – willing to absorb punishment, walk through fire, and test himself against anyone placed across the ring. Over time, that raw toughness evolved into something far more dangerous.
At just 23 years old, the Iranian standout from Team Mehdi Zatout has transformed himself from a gritty crowd-pleaser into a composed finisher. That evolution, forged through highs, setbacks, and constant refinement, ultimately earned him the US$100,000 main roster contract that every ONE Friday Fights athlete chases.
His journey through ONE’s featherweight divisions was never linear. It was earned round by round, mistake by mistake, and victory by victory.
A Perfect 2023 Built On Grit And Statement Wins
Siasarani’s promotional journey began at ONE Friday Fights 2 in January 2023, when he made his debut against Avatar PK Saenchai in a featherweight Muay Thai bout.
From the opening exchanges, the Iranian showed fans exactly what kind of fighter he was – durable, aggressive, and unafraid of pressure.
He absorbed heavy offense, stayed composed under fire, and pushed forward relentlessly to earn a hard-fought majority decision victory. It was not a flawless performance, but it was an introduction built on resolve.
Four months later, Siasarani made a pivotal adjustment.
He crossed over to kickboxing and faced highly touted Moroccan prodigy Mohammed Boutasaa – a matchup many viewed as a step too far, too soon. Instead, Siasarani delivered one of the year’s most surprising performances.
Using deception and patience, he deliberately dropped his guard to draw counters before responding with cleaner, heavier strikes. Over three rounds, he controlled the exchanges and secured a unanimous decision that sent a message to the global fan base that he was more than just a tough fighter.
Momentum followed him back to Muay Thai at ONE Friday Fights 26 in July of that year.
Against Thai standout Satanfah Sitsongpeenong, Siasarani faced early adversity when he was dropped in the opening round. Rather than retreat, he responded immediately with a sharp counter right hand that scored a knockdown of his own.
Sensing the shift, he poured on pressure and closed the show with a barrage of punches in the final minute to secure a first-round stoppage. That moment marked a clear leap in confidence and finishing instinct.
His rise continued at ONE Friday Fights 32, where Siasarani entered as the underdog against legendary striker Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong. Once again, he refused to be intimidated by reputation.
He dropped the Thai icon in the second round, absorbed everything that came back his way without flinching, and controlled the tempo down the stretch to earn a unanimous decision.
By year’s end, Siasarani had authored one of the most impressive breakout runs in the weekly Asia primetime series.
Dealing With Early Setbacks And Hard Lessons
If 2023 was defined by ascent, 2024 forced Siasarani to confront reality at the elite level of the “art of eight limbs.”
At ONE Friday Fights 81: Superbon vs. Nattawut in September, he faced Shadow Singha Mawynn. Over three rounds, Shadow applied suffocating pressure, mixing punches, elbows, and kicks to disrupt Siasarani’s rhythm.
A crushing liver shot dropped the Iranian, who showed his trademark toughness by rising to his feet. But despite his resolve, he was unable to swing the momentum back, suffering his first promotional defeat via unanimous decision.
Two months later, he returned at ONE Friday Fights 89 against Khunsuek Superbon Training Camp. Once again, Siasarani endured adversity, including a head-kick knockdown early in the second round. He fought through to the final bell, but the damage was done, and another unanimous decision went the other way.
Those back-to-back losses stalled his momentum and exposed areas that needed refinement. But rather than breaking him, the setbacks reshaped him.
Refined Form, Defining Wins, And A Coveted Contract Secured
Siasarani answered those lessons with composure in 2025.
He returned to kickboxing at ONE Friday Fights 105 against Liu Mengyang, a surging force riding a dominant win over former K-1 Champion Masaaki Noiri and carrying a 21-fight winning streak. Under pressure, Siasarani showed patience and control, matching Liu’s pace and output before edging a razor-close split decision.
To this day, it remains the only loss Liu has suffered in ONE Championship.
That performance was followed by two more kickboxing victories over Japanese striker Kaito Ono and Polish athlete Oskar Siegert in May and August, respectively. Both wins came by unanimous decision and reinforced Siasarani’s ability to handle stylistically diverse opponents.
Kaito’s promotional debut, in particular, had drawn attention after public friction with three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion Marat Grigorian.
Siasarani, however, neutralized the hype and delivered a disciplined performance that underscored his maturity.
Then came the defining moment.
At ONE Friday Fights 137: Tawanchai vs. Liu over the weekend, Siasarani returned to Muay Thai and faced former ONE World Title challenger “Smokin’” Jo Nattawut. This time, there was no drawn-out battle. In the second round, Siasarani landed a clean one-two combination that shut the door decisively.
It was the culmination of his transformation – toughness now paired with precision.
That run, marked by resilience, adaptation, and increasingly decisive finishes, convinced ONE Championship that Siasarani had earned his place on the global stage.
The US$100,000 main roster contract was not a gift. It was the result of a fighter who learned, evolved, and broke through one of the deepest gauntlets in combat sports.
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