Pongsiri Mitsatit aiming to improve family’s life with ONE Championship success

Thailand’s Pongsiri Mitsatit is one of the most exciting talents in the ONE Championship strawweight division. But while the martial arts world is getting excited by how far the former Muay Thai star can take his skills in the cage, his focus remains firmly on his family back home.

The bright lights of the ONE Championship cage are a far cry from Mitsatit’s childhood. He grew up on a farm with his parents in Northern Thailand, and the 21-year-old prospect from Chiang Mai says he still works on the farm when he goes home to visit.

“When I stay at home, I wake up at 5am to help on my parents’ farm,” he said. “My parents are farmers and they eat what they plant. They are very poor and work very hard.”

As a youngster, he would help his family in the fields, then work a side job at a local bike garage. It didn’t earn him much, but he was happy to contribute to his family.

Now, as a rising star of ONE Championship, he hopes to make a life-changing difference to his family. It’s something he’s done ever since he started getting paid for his bouts.

“When I started my career, I sent money back to my family,” he explained. “When I won my first bout in ONE [against Ye Thway Ne], I helped my father buy a truck to help with farming. It makes me feel very happy that I can help my family.”

Mitsatit’s martial arts career wasn’t initially accepted by his family, who allowed him to attend classes as a youngster to help him deal with bullies during his school days. But when he told them of his plans to turn professional, they weren’t so keen.

“They did not allow me to compete, but I still found time to compete and train,” he reveals. “I was not staying with my parents, so they did not know.”

Unknown to his parents, Mitsatit started competing in Muay Thai as a professional, eventually amassing an impressive career record of 72-17. But his burgeoning success in competition meant he couldn’t keep his new career a secret forever.

“The reason they found out is I became proud of my accomplishment,” he explained. “I decided to tell them, and I am happy they accepted it.”

Mitsatit went on to capture the Loh Kroh Stadium Championship, before winning a Chiang Mai provincial title.

After joining Team Quest Thailand as a Muay Thai trainer, his eyes were opened to the rise of caged martial arts competition, and under the tutelage of head coach Dylan Fussell, he made the transition and hasn’t looked back since.

So far in his martial arts career, he’s compiled a perfect professional record of eight wins, no losses, with all seven of his stoppage victories coming inside the opening round.

His last outing showcased his superb striking skills, as he defeated Filipino wushu champion Rabin ‘The Rock’ Catalan via first-round TKO at ONE: WARRIOR KINGDOM in March.

On Friday 3 November, the unbeaten Thai will take on Filipino talent Jeremy ‘The Jaguar’ Miado (6-1) at ONE: HERO’S DREAM in Yangon, Myanmar. It’s the latest opportunity for Mitsatit to impress in the cage, move up the ladder, and generate more opportunities to help his family.

“Miado is good athlete with a beautiful record. I think this match will be one of the best matches of the night,” Mitsatit said. “I respect him, but I need to beat him. And when I win, I hope I can compete with the best.

“I want to be a world champion and make money enough to change my family’s life.”

If he can reach that goal, the man known as ‘The Smiling Assassin’ will have even more reason to grin.