Nontachai Jitmuangnon Seeks Redemption, Soner Sen Plots Destruction At ONE Friday Fights 130
The two surging international stars will collide in Bangkok on October 24.
By Fachrul Sidiq
Oct 23, 2025, 08:16 UTC
The main event of ONE Friday Fights 130 will pit two hungry warriors with something to prove when Nontachai Jitmuangnon meets Soner “Golden Boy” Sen in a bantamweight Muay Thai showdown.
It airs live this Friday, October 24, in Asia primetime from Bangkok, Thailand.
For Nontachai – a teammate of Thai megastar Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon – this bout marks an important step in his comeback journey.
The 26-year-old striker is looking to rebuild momentum after tasting defeat for the first time under the ONE Championship banner and has dropped to the bantamweight division with a clear mission in mind.
He said:
“This fight feels like a fresh start for me. I’m back fighting in ONE Friday Fights and have dropped down to the bantamweight division, with the clear goal of seeking a rematch with Abdulla [Dayakaev].
“I’m happy to be given the chance to headline the event for the first time. I am very determined to come back and win this fight. I’ve been training twice as hard as before.”
Before his first defeat, Nontachai had been on a steady rise through the weekly spectacle. He quickly made a name for himself with a string of victories, including a knockout of Dmitrii “The Silent Assassin” Kovtun and a dominant showing against Arian “Destroyer” Esparza that brought his promotional record to 3-0.
That unbeaten run ended at ONE Fight Night 33 in March when he was stopped by Dayakaev – the #5-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender and the only man to beat him in ONE.
The loss still fuels him, and his move down to bantamweight is part of a larger plan to regain momentum and eventually settle the score.
Nontachai said:
“From now on, I am ready to fight in the bantamweight division for the long term. If I get the chance, I want to challenge for Abdulla’s spot in the top five rankings. Last time he moved up to featherweight for me, now it’s my turn to go down and find him.”
Before that can happen, the Jitmuangnon Gym representative must first overcome another dangerous foe in Sen, a slick, pressure-based striker from Team Mehdi Zatout – the same camp that Dayakaev trains out of.
That connection adds extra motivation for the Thai fighter, who has studied Sen’s approach in detail to craft his game plan.
Nontachai said:
“Soner is a fighter who leads with his jab and uses leg kicks to interrupt opponents. His most dangerous weapon is his punches, which are both powerful and sharp.
“Soner’s clear weakness is that he doesn’t handle close combat well. We saw in his loss to Worapon [Lukjaoporongtom] that he struggled there. My strength is fighting on the inside, as I’m naturally a knee fighter, and I plan to use that to my utmost advantage.”
Sen Seeks To Destroy Nontachai’s Game Plan
Turkey’s Soner “Golden Boy” Sen is determined to return to form when he faces Thailand’s Nontachai Jitmuangnon in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 130 on October 24.
The 29-year-old striker has been one of the busiest and most exciting athletes in the weekly showcase, collecting six wins since making his promotional debut.
Known for his forward pressure and crisp boxing combinations, Sen quickly became a fan favorite, but his rise hit a bump this past August when he dropped a decision in a trilogy fight with Worapon Lukjaoporongtom. Now, he believes the lessons from that loss have sharpened his approach.
He said:
“I have been trying to learn from my mistakes and have been working on them. I was focused on how to keep my opponent at a distance because I don’t want to get into clinch work with Muay Thai fighters.”
That adjustment could prove vital when he meets Nontachai, a powerful knee fighter known for his clinch game.
Sen understands the challenge ahead but sees areas where he can turn the fight in his favor.
“Golden Boy” said:
“I think that Nontachai’s right kick and right hand are very fast. But I don’t think Nontachai is very good at clinching like Worapon does. If he tries to come in and do some clinching, I will keep my distance with counterattacks, and I want to finish the fight.
“My game plan is that when Nontachai attacks me, I want to destroy his game plan and come up with counterattacks using my hands, jabs, or hooks.”
That strategy aligns with his preparation in Thailand, where Sen has been sharpening his skills alongside some of the sport’s brightest names.
Training under Team Mehdi Zatout, he’s been sparring regularly with reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane, whose height, speed, and creativity have helped him refine his distance control.
Sen explained:
“I’m not going to push forward. I’m going to wait for Nontachai to come at me. I have been sparring with lots of Muay Thai fighters who fight in ONE Championship, like Nabil. I have been doing some clinch work as well.”
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