Sam-A To Battle Aliff For Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title At The Inner Circle On July 24
With Prajanchai injured, the living legend and young star will battle for interim gold in Bangkok next month.
By Carlos Cinco
Jun 6, 2026, 05:12 UTC
A generational showdown for 26 pounds of gold is officially slated for July 24.
With reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai PongSuphan PK temporarily sidelined due to an injury, ONE Championship has booked an epic main event for The Inner Circle.
Former two-sport, two-division king Sam-A Gaiyanghadao will lock horns with 22-year-old Thai-Malaysian sensation Aliff Sor Dechapan for the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title. This event, which emanates from Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium, will broadcast live in Asia primetime exclusively on live.onefc.com.
Sam-A needs no introduction to fans of “the art of eight limbs.”
The legendary veteran is widely regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound strikers in history, possessing a blistering left kick and defensive IQ that has continually frustrated opponents for decades.
After briefly stepping away from competition a few years ago, the Thai icon proved that age is just a number by orchestrating a spectacular return to the global stage.
At age 42, Sam-A has recently showcased his vintage form.
The southpaw has registered brilliant finishes – including his jaw-dropping second-round knockout of Elmehdi “The Sniper” El Jamari at ONE Fight Night 42 this past April – and secured dominant victories to emphatically prove that his World Championship window is far from closed.
Now, the living legend has a clear path to capture the interim gold and secure a future rematch with Prajanchai. But standing in his way is a hungry, determined warrior who is looking to usher in a brand new era for the striking arts.
Aliff has been an absolute revelation since lacing up the 4-ounce gloves and stepping into the world’s largest martial arts organization.
The phenom has systematically dismantled the competition during his promotional campaign, combining relentless forward pressure with devastating, heavy-handed combinations.
He enters this World Title clash riding a five-bout winning streak, most recently earning a unanimous decision over Ramadan “The Scorpion” Ondash at ONE Fight Night 38 last December. That win cemented his status as the division’s undeniable top contender.
For the young Sor Dechapan star, this matchup represents the ultimate litmus test.
Earning his first World Championship opportunity against a Mount Rushmore-level legend is a monumental task, but Aliff’s high-level skills and fearless approach make him a genuine threat to flip the script and take the interim throne.
Furthermore, he also has the chance to make history for Malaysia as the country’s first-ever ONE World Champion.
The roadmap for the strawweight Muay Thai division will be entirely rewritten by the time the final bell rings.
The man who leaves the squared circle victorious will not only have the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title strapped around his waist, but he will also secure a guaranteed unification mega-fight waiting for him once Prajanchai is medically cleared to return to action.
Whether it is a veteran masterclass or a youthful crowning achievement, fans tuning in this July are guaranteed a breathtaking display of striking excellence.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about The Inner Circle on July 24.
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