Fabrice Fairtex Delannon Is Aiming For Excitement, And A Win, In Jakarta

ONE Championship’s newly-launched striking league, ONE Super Series, has already delivered a host of spectacular bouts.

The upcoming clash between three-time Three-time Max Muay Thai World Champion “The Funky Drummer” Fabrice Fairtex Delannon (55-10) and six-time Muay Thai World Champion Yodpanomrung “The Lightning Knee” Jitmuangnon (230-68-2) promises to continue that trend of all-action contests.

The pair will face off at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES in Jakarta, Indonesia on 22 September, and Delannon says the fans are in for a treat.

“He has proved that he’s a great fighter,” the 36-year-old French Guianese athlete says.

“I’m a MAX Muay Thai World Champion, and he’s a Lumpinee Stadium World Champion. The fight is going to be interesting. When I fight, you never know how it’s going to go.”

Delannon’s ONE Super Series debut at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER ended in disappointment as his bout with two-division Lumpinee Stadium World Champion Petchmorrakot Wor. Sangprapai ended prematurely due to a cut as he lost via doctor stoppage.

Despite the disappointing result in his debut, Delannon took plenty of positives from the experience.

“It felt great to make my debut,” he explains.

“I was at the same level as my opponent, and I was doing well.

“Those Lumpinee champions are so good, and I was just close behind him. That was the most important thing. It was encouraging.”

Against Yodpanomrung, Delannon knows he will have to be at the top of his game to defeat the Muay Thai veteran.

“The Funky Drummer” says the crucial factor will be his ability to use his head and compete intelligently against such a seasoned champion.

“I have to fight smart, and boom, find the key to victory,” he continues.

“I need to find an opportunity, and blow it up.

“I never have a plan on how to win. I just feel it, and go.

“I don’t like plans. It’s like in life – sometimes you make plans, and things go differently, so I’ll go into the ring and fight intuitively. I’m an intuitive person.”

Delannon would love nothing more than to ascend to the summit of ONE Super Series and capture a world title.

He would also love the opportunity bout with the man who he considers a Muay Thai hero, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao.

“What I want is to fight the best fighters,” he says.

“Nong-O is supposed to be the best fighter. To have the opportunity to fight him, for a belt, would be great.”