ONE Friday Fights 173 Co-Main Event Result: Payakrut Foils Mezentsev’s Late Surge To Claim Split Decision Win

Payakrut Suajantokmuaythai held off Andrii Mezentsev‘s late comeback attempt to escape with a razor-close split decision win in the co-main event of ONE Friday Fights 173 on Friday, October 2, airing live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.

Kicks flew in abundance from the opening bell of this strawweight Muay Thai battle. Mezentsev settled behind disciplined low kicks while Payakrut answered with fancier teeps and spinning attacks to keep his dance partner guessing. 

Once the Thai began checking the low kicks, Mezentsev opted to let his hands go instead. The 27-year-old landed a left-right cross combination, but the Thai shrugged it off and fired back with a head kick and a sneaky elbow that slipped past the Ukrainian’s guard.

However, Mezentsev overcommitted and walked straight into a right hand down the middle from Payakrut that sat him down on the canvas in the second canto. Still, Mezentsev shook off the cobwebs, carrying on with decent punch combinations to close out the frame strong.

The 20-year-old’s whirling dervish continued as the round progressed. Payakrut uncorked a spinning wheel kick followed by straight hands that caught Mezentsev whenever he dipped. Aware of the danger in staying on the outside against a rangy foe, Mezentsev bull-rushed his way in with powerful hooks.

Playing from behind in the third round, Mezentsev threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Suajan Tok Ban Muay Thai and Team Mavinn Muaythai star. He swarmed Payakrut with crushing hooks that cut open the Thai and had him backpedaling.

Visibly shaken, Payakrut soldiered on and countered with over-the-top elbows to deal with the Ukrainian’s desperate late surge.

The 20-year-old’s durability held up when it mattered most, and the second-round knockdown tilted the scorecards in his favor. The split decision snapped a two-fight skid and pushed his career record to 33-12.

ONE Friday Fights 173 Full Results:

• Payakrut Suajantokmuaythai defeats Andrii Mezentsev via split decision (Muay Thai – strawweight)
• Cal Cook defeats Nongkhailek Dr.Knotmuaythai via TKO at 2:34 of round one (Muay Thai – flyweight) 
• Panpakan Sor Sasiwat defeats Petkongfa Wor Technoluangpusuang via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – flyweight) 
• Gaichon Sor Prawatmuang defeats Tandiao Por Prawit via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – atomweight) 
• Imran Satiev defeats Babar Ali via submission at 3:06 of round one (MMA – flyweight) 
• Joanne La defeats Yara Saleh via split decision (Muay Thai – strawweight) 
• Jongjun Park defeats Youssef Ramadan via TKO at 1:28 of round two (MMA – bantamweight) 
• Hiroyuki defeats Kevin Oyervides via knockout at 1:04 of round two (Muay Thai – strawweight) 

Source: ONE Championship