‘We Held A Slight Edge’ – Tawanchai Breaks Down Yod-IQ’s ONE World Title Triumph At The Inner Circle 30
The former ONE featherweight Muay Thai king reflects on the late-fight adjustments and emotion behind the victory.
By Fachrul Sidiq
Sep 15, 2026, 08:39 UTC
For years, Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri looked to Tawanchai PK Saenchai as a blueprint for what he hoped to achieve in Muay Thai.
On September 11, the longtime friends and PK Saenchai Muaythaigym teammates found themselves sharing a defining moment. Tawanchai worked Yod-IQ’s corner as the 24-year-old defeated former divisional king Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon by unanimous decision to capture the vacant ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title at The Inner Circle 30.
The victory at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium extended Yod-IQ’s winning streak to 11 and completed a remarkable rise through the bantamweight ranks.
From his position in the corner, Tawanchai had an intimate view of all five rounds. While he acknowledged how tightly contested the championship battle was, he believed his teammate generally stayed a step ahead on the scorecards.
He said:
“It was pretty back-and-forth, but I feel like we held a slight edge in almost every round. Round three was probably the only one where we looked a bit on the back foot in terms of strike output and aggressiveness.”
That third frame became an important point in the contest. Rambolek enjoyed one of his better stretches, while Yod-IQ needed to find another gear as the fight moved into the later rounds.
The new titleholder responded by increasing the pressure. According to Tawanchai, that shift came once Yod-IQ had begun to understand the timing and openings available against his opponent.
He said:
“Yod-IQ definitely pressed the pace because he found his rhythm. He figured out when to step in, throw combinations, and land those kicks.”
Rather than developing into an all-out slugfest, the contest remained a measured battle between two experienced technicians. Both men had moments of success without allowing the other to completely take control.
For Tawanchai, much of the intrigue came from watching them fight for the smallest advantages in range and timing, with each exchange carrying added importance across the five-round World Title matchup.
He said:
“It was extremely close and competitive. They were trading and trying to out-time each other – it wasn’t a reckless brawl, just high-level timing and tactics.”
Tawanchai Ready To Celebrate Before Thinking About What Comes Next
Tawanchai PK Saenchai’s place in Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri’s corner carried extra meaning given how far their relationship has come.
Yod-IQ once looked up to the former ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion from afar before the pair became close friends, roommates, and regular training partners at PK Saenchai Muaythaigym. Now, Tawanchai had a front-row seat as his longtime pal claimed a ONE World Title of his own.
The bantamweight picture is already crowded. Stablemate Suakim Pongsuphan PK has a future World Title shot after beating former champion Nabil Anane in a title eliminator, potentially setting up an all-PK Saenchai matchup.
Anane remains a major threat, while Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon could also work his way toward a rematch after pushing Yod-IQ through five competitive rounds. Abdulla “Smash Boy” Dayakaev, whom Yod-IQ defeated in 2024, and former divisional king Jonathan “The General” Haggerty are also among the notable names surrounding the division.
With no shortage of possible challengers, Tawanchai sees little reason to start mapping out Yod-IQ’s first defense immediately.
He said:
“We’ll worry about all that down the road. For now, we’re going to celebrate first and figure out the rest later!”
The priority is simply enjoying Yod-IQ’s breakthrough after an 11-fight winning streak carried him all the way to ONE Championship gold.
And even amid the celebrations, Tawanchai made sure to acknowledge the man who stood across from his teammate for five closely contested rounds.
Rambolek had missed the bantamweight limit before the contest and was therefore unable to retain the belt. Tawanchai felt the difficult weight-management process showed as the bout progressed, though he still viewed the championship battle as extremely close.
He said:
“I also want to send my support to Rambolek. Cutting all that weight took a heavy toll on him – you could clearly see he was gassed and fading out there. It was a really tight fight.”
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