Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri made a statement in his first fight as a full ONE Championship roster member. The Thai edged undefeated Russian Kiamran Nabati by split decision. The bantamweight Muay Thai main event took place at Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, May 22.
Yod-IQ entered on a winning run of nine fights. He earned his ONE contract last December by knocking out the only man who had ever beaten him in the promotion. Nabati came in with a perfect 22-0 professional record.
How the fight unfolded
Yod-IQ pressed the action from the opening bell. He landed hard right hands and low kicks. Nabati closed the distance with right hands and left hooks. He tried to attack in the clinch with knees. Yod-IQ defended well and finished the round with a sharp elbow.
All out war broke out in round two. Both fighters threw themselves into the clinch and let elbows fly. Jutting elbows, horizontal elbows and even spinning elbows came in with bad intentions. Nabati wore more damage when the chaos cleared.
Nabati turned up the pressure in the third. He fired off punch combinations that forced Yod-IQ onto the back foot for the first time. The Thai wrapped his rival up in the clinch and delivered more elbows. He put Nabati through the wringer until the final bell.
What the win means
Yod-IQ extended his winning streak to ten. He improved his career record to 127-36. The split decision win also ended Nabati’s perfect 22-0 record.
The Thai, 24, now inserts himself into the conversation for a title shot. That fight would be against ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon.