The sacred ground at Lumpinee Stadium bore witness to a coronation of sorts this past Friday, as Aliff Sor Dechapan delivered the kind of measured, clinical performance that announces a contender’s arrival at championship doorsteps.
The 21-year-old Malaysian-Thai dismantled the dangerous Ramadan Ondash over three rounds at ONE Fight Night 38, claiming a unanimous decision that earned him far more than three judges’ favor — it secured his shot at Prajanchai PK Saenchai’s ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.
What made Aliff’s victory particularly impressive was the manner in which he neutralized a fighter whose left hook has rendered opponents unconscious with frightening regularity.
Ondash, the Lebanese powerhouse who earned his main-roster contract by demolishing Chartpayak Saksatoon, came to Bangkok hunting for another spectacular knockout. Instead, he found himself outmaneuvered by a fighter who refused to trade violence for violence.
“It was crucial for me to stay composed because he has very dangerous punches,” Aliff explained with the calm assurance of someone who’d spent three rounds proving exactly that. “I just couldn’t go in and trade punches with him.”
Standing nearly four inches taller than his opponent, Aliff transformed physical advantage into tactical dominance. His left kick became the story’s recurring motif, whipping into Ondash’s ribs with metronomic precision until the Lebanese star’s body began betraying him in the second round. As the kicks accumulated like compound interest, Ondash’s explosive power gradually dissipated into desperation.
The defining moment arrived in round three, when Aliff timed a leaping left knee that caught Ondash’s chin flush as he launched his trademark left hook. The eight-count that followed might have tempted younger fighters into reckless pursuit, but Aliff maintained his discipline with the patience of a seasoned veteran twice his age.
“When I got the knockdown, I had to be really careful because I knew that Ramadan would get up and try to knock me out,” he said. “So I played the game very carefully.”
That measured approach extended even to his assessment of the fallen opponent.
“I think he’s one of the most dangerous fighters out there,” Aliff said. “He’s still young, and I think he can still come back strong.”
But Aliff’s respect for Ondash didn’t extend to any interest in a rematch. His gaze has shifted entirely to the 30-year-old Thai icon who holds the gold he covets.
“I’m not interested in a rematch with Ramadan Ondash,” Aliff said. “I am waiting for my title shot. I am confident that my next fight will be a title shot. They also announced it in the ring, so I’m very confident.”
“Prajanchai, I hope you’re ready for me. I am coming for your belt.”
The proclamation carried neither bluster nor false bravado — merely the quiet certainty of a young fighter who has just completed his fifth consecutive victory and now stands ready for the biggest test of his young career.
As Aliff thanked his supporters and prepared to leave Lumpinee Stadium, the Thai faithful understood they had witnessed something significant: not just another victory, but the emergence of a genuine threat to one of Muay Thai’s most skilled champions.