Chatri Sityodtong lauds Superlek as ‘the number one pound-for-pound striker on the planet’
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, has given a very high praise for the two-sport and two division world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Recently, at ONE 168: Denver, Superlek surprised everyone by knocking out British superstar Jonathan Haggerty with a well-timed elbow in the opening minute and claimed the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title in the process.
Speaking in the virtual press conference ahead of the promotion's next pay-per-view card, ONE Friday Fights 81: Superbon vs. Nattawut, Sityodtong elaborated why he thought Superlek is worth the hype.
The ONE executive said:
"If you ask me, I think Superlek is the number one pound-for-pound striker on the planet today. Just his fight IQ, his power, his ability to adapt his game to whoever and he's very active."
He also added:
"I have to say he's one of the fighters on our roster who genuinely never turns [down] an opponent, and never asks for an easy fight. He accepts every fight we give him."
Check out the full virtual press conference with Chatri Sityodtong below:
Chatri Sityodtong wants to bring Superlek vs. Seksan to the U.S.
ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong stated that a marquee showdown between Superlek Kiatmoo9 and Seksan Or Kwanmuang in the United States would be a big possibility.
It came after both Thai superstars received a warm welcome from the American fans inside Colorado's Ball Arena at ONE Championship's recent live on-ground event in the U.S.
After all, Superlek and Seksan were big winners against their respective British opponents, where 'The Kicking Machine' claimed the bantamweight Muay Thai world title from Jonathan Haggerti with a first-round KO, and 'The Man Who Yields to No One' marked his US debut with a second round KO over Liam Harrison.
Speaking at the post-event press conference of ONE 168 on Sept. 6, Sityodtong addressed the possibility of having such a clash there:
"You never know, it's a possibility. What I'm enjoying is bringing the world's greatest strikers to America. Of course, we showed all the disciplines. Like I said, we're the Olympics of martial arts. In one night, you get to see the baddest men and women on the planet in different martial arts disciplines."
While that is still in the future, American fans can watch all the actions live at ONE Friday Fights 81 in Asian primetime on Sept. 27, live via global pay-per-view at watch.onefc.com.