Sometimes defeat serves as prologue rather than epilogue, and for Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi, October’s setback against Akif Guluzada has become the catalyst for a strategic reinvention that culminates Friday at Lumpinee Stadium.
The 24-year-old Thai striker will make his strawweight Muay Thai debut against living legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao at ONE Friday Fights 137, a matchup that represents both the ultimate honor and the ultimate examination for a fighter seeking redemption after his first loss in over a year.
That defeat at ONE Fight Night 36 proved instructive in ways victories never could. Guluzada’s jumping knee in the opening round fundamentally altered the bout’s trajectory, and though Jaosuayai rallied over the final two stanzas, the early knockdown proved insurmountable on the judges’ scorecards.
“Personally, I think the game plan and style for the last fight with Akif was a mess,” Jaosuayai said. “In that moment I was counted, I lost control. It was like my vision cut out, and I instantly blacked out.”
The loss snapped a five-fight winning streak and dropped his ONE Championship record to 8-3. More importantly, it forced serious reflection about his future in the organization — reflection that led him and his team to a crucial strategic decision.
“After the last fight, my weight only went up by four or five pounds,” Jaosuayai said. “So, I decided to consult with my coach about dropping down to try the 125-pound division, a weight class I haven’t competed at for about four-to-five years.”
The move down to strawweight isn’t retreat but recalibration. Throughout his career, Jaosuayai has competed across multiple weight classes, and he believes refined training protocols have made the drop not just feasible but advantageous.
“This decision is not about running away from the 135-pound division, as some have criticized,” he said. “It’s because my improved training plan has made my body condition better, and my weight has been dropping automatically. I feel more energetic, elusive, and faster now.”
Yet debuting in a new weight class against Sam-A Gaiyanghadao — a 42-year-old phenomenon with 376 career victories and World Titles across two sports — represents an audacious gambit that borders on the quixotic.
He captured the inaugural ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship in 2018, the inaugural ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title in 2019, and the inaugural ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship in February 2020. His recent unanimous decision victory over Thway Lin Htet in September demonstrated he remains formidable despite four decades of accumulated combat.
For Jaosuayai, whose reputation rests on flying knees, devastating kicks, and spectacular spinning elbows, the opportunity carries profound weight.
“I was extremely surprised when ONE confirmed my opponent would be the legendary Sam-A,” he said.
“It never crossed my mind that I would get the chance to fight a legend whom I have been a fan of since I first started training. I see Sam-A as a true Muay Thai legend with no flaws, whether it’s his strategy, striking, heavy left kick, or toughness. I consider this the toughest opponent of my career.”
Still, Jaosuayai believes the unpredictability of competing in four-ounce gloves creates opportunities that wouldn’t exist under traditional rules.
“I believe that under the small gloves of ONE, the outcome is 50-50, depending on whose timing is better and who lands more accurately,” he said. “If I can manage to beat Sam-A, it would be a significant historical moment and a huge source of pride in my life. After this fight, if I win, I’m ready to take on everyone in this division.”
Come Friday evening, Jaosuayai will discover whether defeat’s lessons have prepared him for glory’s demands, and whether dropping weight has given him the tools to topple one of Muay Thai’s most decorated warriors.
