An 18-year-old with a 54-5 record and a point to prove. Adam Rakib delivered exactly that — and then some.
The Inner Circle: May 8 | Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Adam Rakib put on a Muay Thai masterclass at The Inner Circle on Friday, May 8, defeating French contender Enzo Clarisse by unanimous decision in the strawweight main event at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 18-year-old Thai-Malaysian prospect had promised to operate on a different level heading into the bout, and he delivered on every word. Leaving no doubt in the judges’ minds across three dominant rounds.
A Flying Start That Set the Tone
From the opening bell, it was clear Adam Rakib had arrived with a game plan built around explosive, high-risk striking. Both fighters opened cautiously, circling and probing with high kicks and punches before the teenager announced himself in emphatic fashion.
A perfectly-timed jumping head kick found its target, sending Clarisse crashing to the canvas for an eight-count and signalling to the Lumpinee crowd exactly what kind of night this was going to be.
To his credit, the 22-year-old Frenchman recovered and looked to turn the tide, but Rakib was too slick, too sharp, and too elusive.
Relentless Pressure in Rounds Two and Three
If round one belonged to the highlight reel, rounds two and three were a lesson in controlled aggression. Rakib kept launching himself into flying kicks while weaving body shots into his combinations, and the cumulative damage began to tell on Clarisse.
The Team Mehdi Zatout representative found himself increasingly on the back foot in the second round, unable to cut off the ring or land anything of significance against a man who seemed to know exactly where danger was coming from — and how to avoid it.
By the third, the Malaysian was moving with the confidence of a seasoned veteran, ripping shots through Clarisse’s guard and dancing away before a response could come. Clarisse gave chase, but the teenager picked him apart with composed, precise counters all the way to the final bell.
What’s Next for Adam Rakib?
With the unanimous decision victory, improved his record to an outstanding 54-5 and took another significant stride toward the goal that drives him every time he steps under the Lumpinee lights — following his brother Aliff Sor Dechapan onto the full ONE Championship roster and earning that career-defining $100,000 contract.
The Inner Circle – May 8 Full Results
- Adam Sor Dechapan defeats Enzo Clarisse via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – strawweight)
- Rifdean Masdor defeats Petkiattisak O Sansuk via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – atomweight)
- Chartpayak Saksatoon defeats Thway Lin Htet via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – strawweight)
- Petkhaokradong Lukjaomaesaithong defeats Victor Hugo via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – lightweight)
- Daiki Yonekura defeats Rodrigo Marello via unanimous decision (Submission grappling – bantamweight)