ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 will head to his first fight in the promotion’s bantamweight ranks while riding high on a very important victory.

Last weekend at ONE Friday Fights 68, ‘The Kicking Machine’ edged a dangerous compatriot in Kongthoranee Sor Sommai in their flyweight Muay Thai showdown inside the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Superlek speaks about his Kongthoranee win

It was a risky move for Superlek, as he is already scheduled to fight two-sport king Jonathan ‘The General’ Haggerty for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE 168: Denver on September 6 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Speaking to reporters in a post-fight press conference, the 28-year-old shut down any talk about getting an easy fight before his showdown with Haggerty.

“I don’t think the fight was easy. Of course, we are on a global level, nothing is easy, none of the fights would be easy,” he said.

“I have known Kongthoranee for a long time, I’ve known him since we were fighting in five-round Muay Thai [fights] and he’s not an easy fighter, he’s a very good fighter. And I think today he did really well. He has exceeded my expectations.”

Superlek is now fully focused on his next bout and his chance at claiming the Muay Thai gold in ONE against a ‘farang’ who took it from a legend of the sport in Nong-O Hama at ONE Fight Night 9 in April last year.

Against Haggerty, the Kiatmoo9 Gym representative will be risking his incredible 10-fight win streak while needing to move up a weight class. It will no doubt be a huge fight, like two of his latest ones – against Rodtang ‘The Iron Man’ Jitmuangnon at ONE Friday Fights 34 last September and ‘The Natural Born Crusher’ Takeru Segawa at ONE 165 this past January.

Superlek open to rematch with Rodtang

Looking ahead, fans would definitely welcome another Superlek-Rodtang pairing especially if it would be a five-round affair for ONE Championship gold. Asked if he too would like for it to happen, the top-ranked flyweight Muay Thai division contender says the decision is ultimately not his to make.

“Well, it’s all up to Chatri [Sityodtong]. That would be in the future. If he decided we needed a rematch, then there would be a rematch,” he said.

Superlek and Rodtang have developed a mutual respect and healthy friendship between them, but it was evident in their first meeting last year that they can put all that aside to put on a show for fans.

Outside fighting, both men enjoy playing football and using their kicks to score goals instead of knockouts. Even here, Superlek remains respectful of ‘The Iron Man’ and says they are on even ground in terms of skills.

“I feel that the matches I’ve had with him are all friendly matches. But yeah, we are just equally good,” he said.