Thai destroyer Petmuangsri Torfunfarm emerged with an important win in the main event of The Inner Circle 29 inside Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, September 4.
The 23-year-old TDed99 standout outpointed Scottish striker Gregor Thom via unanimous decision in their three-round flyweight Muay Thai clash to extend his winning streak to a perfect 3-0 in the promotion this year.
Petmuangsri walked forward with heavy punches and thudding kicks from the opening bell. Thom answered right back, biting down on his own calf kicks to score early damage against the Thai — until Petmuangsri began checking the strikes, closing the distance, and tying his rival up in the clinch to unload biting knees to the body.
Round two flipped the entire dynamic on its head. A lightning-fast head-kick counter from Petmuangsri nearly folded Thom on the spot, and the Thai’s confidence visibly grew from that moment onward.
Slick feints, blistering hooks, and chopping kick combinations followed, even as Thom kept firing back with body-to-head punch chains in what quickly became a phone-booth war.
The final frame belonged to Petmuangsri. The Silk Muay Thai and Aberdeen Combat Centre representative kept swinging heavy leather, but the TDed99 product slipped shots magnificently and countered at will.
A desperate Thom tried to bait him into a firefight in the closing seconds, only for the Thai to hold his line and see the round out on his own terms en route to a unanimous decision win.
Mongkoldetlek, Rak, Songpandin, and Kawakami deliver
Former Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai world champion Mongkoldetlek Por Pim-on also extended his unbeaten run in the world’s largest martial arts organization this year, beating Moroccan debutant Yassir Rassafi in their bantamweight Muay Thai co-main event clash.
Mongkoldetlek struggled early against Rassafi’s height, reach, and elusive footwork, but he switched up his tactics, relying on aggression in the second round with punishing body kicks and a snappy right hand on the exit.
The highlight of the fight came in the third, when a left hook rocketed through the 21-year-old’s guard for a knockdown that ultimately swung the cards. Thus, the Thai veteran extended his winning streak to three and pushed his career record to 127-54, further nudging closer to a US$100,000 main roster contract.
Elsewhere, Rak Erawan snapped his two-fight skid with a violent first-round TKO of Hern NF Looksuan in their atomweight Muay Thai scrap. He dropped his foe thrice, capped with a kick-punch flurry that sealed the triumph.
With the TKO at the 2:48 mark of the opening round, the ex-Lumpinee Stadium world champion upped his slate to 77-15.
In addition, Songpandin Chor Kaewwiset spoiled Petsiam Soonsrangthangtak‘s ONE debut with a merciless second-round TKO in their flyweight Muay Thai battle, stretching his winning streak to three and his career slate to 43-13.
Last but not least, Japanese debutant Kyo Kawakami outworked Isaiah Badato in flyweight kickboxing, earning the 17th win of his career via unanimous decision.
The Inner Circle 29 Full Results:
- Petmuangsri Torfunfarm defeats Gregor Thom via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – flyweight)
- Mongkoldetlek Por Pim-on defeats Yassir Rassafi via majority decision (Muay Thai – bantamweight)
- Rak Erawan defeats Hern Looksuan via TKO at 2:48 of round one (Muay Thai – atomweight)
- Songpandin Chor Kaewwiset defeats Petsiam Soonsrangthangtak via TKO at 2:50 of round two (Muay Thai – flyweight)
- Kyo Kawakami defeats Isaiah Badato via unanimous decision (kickboxing – flyweight)
