Former champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke shines in Kuala Lumpur

Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke continues moving forward in his quest back to the ONE Strawweight World Title. The former champion defeated the Philippines’ Robin “The Ilonggo" Catalan on Friday, 18 August, at ONE: QUEST FOR GREATNESS.

For the 27-year-old Filipino, a former IFMA World Muay Thai Champion, his strategy appeared to be takedowns which would lead to submissions. After a beautiful textbook slam, which brought the crowd at Kuala Lumpur’s packed Stadium Negara to its feet, he and Amnuaysirichoke exchanged words on the ground in a double crucifix.

Catalan moved to side control and then took the Thai’s back, but Amnuaysirichoke — a multi-time Lumpinee World Champion who now trains out of Singapore’s Evolve MMA — stood up and shook off his foe. 

“The Ilonggo" responded with a hard left and another takedown, once again going for the back. As his opponent tried to escape, the Filipino nearly caught Amnuaysirichoke in a heel hook. But alas, it was not meant to be.

Heading into the second round, Catalan had to feel confident in his ground game. Still, there is a reason why Amnuaysirichoke is the former ONE Strawweight World Champion, as he recovered well after weathering the storm. He showed that early into the second frame by unleashing his striking and blasting the self-assured Catalan with a knee to the body.

The Filipino tried to pressure Amnuaysirichoke, and look for the opportunity to drop levels, but standing chest-to-chest is what the Singaporean-based Thai does best. Knees were the order of the day, as the former champ delivered one wearying strike after another.

Catalan had one chance to escape when Amnuaysirichoke briefly switched to a right hand, but he was already winded and stumbled. He crumbled under the continued assault, forcing referee Yuji Shimada to halt the contest by TKO just 46 seconds into the second round.

With his scintillating victory, Amnuaysirichoke improves to 8-2 and reasserts his own quest to regain the championship. Meanwhile, a dejected Catalan falls to 6-3, and must reassess his strategy next time out.