Reigning ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao is one step away from becoming the first-ever ONE Championship athlete to simultaneously hold belts in two different sports and in two different weight classes.

Sam-A, the former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, faces Rocky Ogden at ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE on 28 February for the inaugural ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.

The Evolve representative has been dominant ever since he switched to his natural weight class.

At ONE: CENTURY PART I in October 2019, he dispatched French rival Daren Rolland in the second round with a stunning knockout in ONE’s first-ever strawweight Muay Thai bout.

Then in December of the same year, the Thai native out-struck “Golden Boy” Wang Junguang at ONE: MARK OF GREATNESS to capture the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship.

With his first foray into the sport of kickboxing a success, Sam-A is now hungry to add another belt to his trophy case.

“Since I got the [ONE] Kickboxing World Title, I wished to have one more in Muay Thai,” he said. “I grew up with Muay Thai and I will fight for it.”

The 36-year-old has nearly three decades worth of experience competing in Muay Thai, and nothing will please him more than winning another World Championship in the sport where he has achieved so much success.

“It will be my honor to win the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title,” he said.

“I became the man I am today because of Muay Thai. Winning this championship belt will be one of the greatest wins in my 28-year career.

“I would be very proud to hold both belts in kickboxing and Muay Thai at the same time.”

Sam-A is confident that the intensive training with his compatriots at Evolve has prepared him for this bout.

“I trained for this fight for two months with many Muay Thai Champions at Evolve – “Kru Rong” Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, Sagetdao Petpayathai, Nonthachai Sit O, Panomrooglek Kiatmookao, and more,” he explained.

The Singapore-based Thai athlete is also grateful to compete in his adopted hometown and cannot wait to perform for the fans in “The Lion City.”

“This match will be in my second homeland, Singapore, and I am more comfortable because I am used to the atmosphere here,” he said.

“I don’t have to fly over. There is no pressure or stress from that.

“Plus, there are a lot of my fans here. While I can’t predict the result, I will definitely be going a hundred percent from the heart for this match.”

Will Sam-A become the first-ever ONE World Champion to hold belts in two different sports in two different weight classes?

Find out on 28 February in the co-main event of ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE in the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Download the ONE Super App to catch all the action live and for free.

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