Rising Muay Thai star has won seven straight at ONE Friday Fights, beating some of the most promising young fighters in the world today.
As the 23-year-old Thai looks to extend his winning streak at , what awaits could be a life-changing US$100,000 contract to compete against the best of the best in ONE Championship.
Yod-IQ will face Italian powerhouse in the bantamweight Muay Thai main event on Friday, July 25, at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, and he knows he needs to do something special to achieve his ultimate goal.
Yod-IQ told onefc.com:
“Overall, I’m satisfied with my performance in the past 10 fights. But I haven’t quite reached my ultimate goal, which is to secure a ONE contract. I still need to continuously develop my skills.
“The main reason for my strong performance lately is all the skepticism from the fans. Many people said a fighter like me couldn’t beat foreign opponents. So, I really wanted to show them that Thai male fighters can compete with foreigners and handle their boxing styles.”
Yod-IQ has laced up the gloves at ONE Friday Fights 10 times, securing nine solid victories overall while showcasing his technical fighting ability and fan-friendly style.
His impressive run started at in March 2023 with a second-round technical knockout over and has continued through to his most recent triumph over at this past May.
Along the way, he scored massive wins over dangerous knockout artists and . His lone defeat came by way of decision to Russia’s at .
As he guns for his eighth consecutive victory, the Thai technician understands that he needs a spectacular finish on Friday to make a resounding statement.
“I think in this fight, I need to win beautifully and try to secure a decisive knockout to have a chance at getting a ONE contract. Boss Chatri [Sityodtong] likes fighters who show killer instinct. If I win by decision, the opportunity might be difficult.”
Yod-IQ Breaks Down Keys To Beating Malatesta
While Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri remains focused on executing his game plan against Alessio Malatesta, the Thai phenom understands that this fight represents his best chance to join the ranks of the elite in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
An explosive performance over a highly regarded opponent could really make his case for a spot on ONE Championship’s elite global roster.
Malatesta brings legitimate knockout power and a perfect finishing rate to this contest, having recorded all three of his wins at ONE Friday Fights via knockout.
First, he came back from a knockdown to drop three times in the first round at in October last year. Two months later at , he scored an emphatic first-round finish over to add to his highlight reel.
Most recently, at this past May, Malatesta ended ‘s night early with a flurry of punches in the second frame.
While acknowledging the danger his Italian adversary poses, Yod-IQ believes he has identified Malatesta’s key weaknesses that will allow him to neutralize his opponent’s explosive arsenal:
“Alessio’s strengths are his dangerous punches and his highly traditional Muay Thai fighting style. I admit his weapons are heavy, but I’m ready to endure and won’t let him take me down easily.
“I noticed his body is not very good. He doesn’t handle heavy shots to the body well.”
For this fight, Yod-IQ has been training alongside reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion , whose guidance has proven invaluable as the 23-year-old prepares for the most important fight of his career.
With the support of everyone at PK Saenchai Muaythaigym, the Thai upstart has never been more prepared for what could be his shot at making it to the global stage.
Yod-IQ said:
“For this fight, Tawanchai has had free time to help train me fully, both in the morning and evening. Everyone at the camp sees me as a hope, hoping to finally get that ONE contract.”
