ONE Friday Fights 167 Co-Main Event Result: Yokkiri’s Clinch Work Proves Decisive Against Ali Al-Kinani

Thai promotional debutant Yokkiri TN Muaythai weathered a wild striking storm and repeatedly found a home in the clinch to earn a split decision win over Iraqi buzzsaw Ali Al-Kinani in the co-main event of ONE Friday Fights 167, which took place live in Asia primetime on Friday, August 21.

Al-Kinani came out fast in this strawweight Muay Thai clash inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, stabbing his jab into Yokkiri’s face and following up with his right hand as a battering ram. The Thai was forced to shell up early, swinging wild hooks of his own, while the Team Mehdi Zatout man puffed out his chest and let spinning back fists fly for good measure.

Round two saw Yokkiri face the embodiment of chaos as the Iraqi swung wildly in search of a fight-ending blow. But he dipped underneath the danger and snuck into the clinch time and again, scoring knees against a defenseless Al-Kinani.

Al-Kinani spun himself into round three, unloading spinning punch after spinning punch and playing to the crowd throughout. Yokkiri, however, refused to be outdone in the theatrics department, closing the distance and stealing the fight from inside the clinch once more.

The judges were split, but the 25-year-old Yokkiri did enough from close range to get the nod and improve his slate to 71-30.

ONE Friday Fights 167 Full Results:

• Yokkiri TN Muaythai defeats Ali Al-Kinani via split decision (Muay Thai – strawweight)
• Kajornklai Sor Sor Toipadriew defeats Tewadalek Tor Muangthoenmuaythai via KO at 0:11 of round two (Muay Thai – bantamweight)
• Petgarfield Jitmuangnon defeats Netpayak Changaewburiram via TKO at 0:37 of round two (Muay Thai – featherweight)
• Nauris Bartoska defeats Patrick Hill via TKO at 1:12 of round two (MMA – bantamweight)
• Giorgia Pieropan defeats Ployjan Sitnayokdam via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – atomweight)
• Raize defeats Vusal Aliyev via KO at 2:16 of round one (kickboxing – strawweight)
• Sheng Yi Yang defeats Shota Takezoe via TKO at 1:03 of round two (Muay Thai – flyweight)

Source: ONE Championship