ONE Friday Fights 71 full results and recap: Songchainoi topples Rak in fiery rematch
As they did in their first ONE Friday Fights encounter more than eight months ago, Songchainoi Kiatsongrit and Rak Erawan gave it their all in a blistering 116-pound catchweight Muay Thai matchup that headlined the promotion's return to the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
And, once more, it was the former who got his hand raised via unanimous decision to extend his overall resume to 57-18 and promotional record to a pristine 7-0 at ONE Friday Fights 71 on July 19.
The 23-year-old, who secured a life-changing six-figure contract after his dominant win over Rak in November last year, finished strong despite a slow start inside the Thai capital city.
After a feeling-out process in the opening stanza, both warriors let loose at a frantic pace in a back-and-forth second round. Songchainoi relied on his crisp counters to punish Rak, who advanced into enemy territory with heavy combinations.
Still, it was never enough to outdo Songchainoi, as the latter's counters saw him double up his output whenever his foe connected with big three-piece strikes via his elbows and straights.
Though forward pressure was Rak's backbone to success in the second round of their tie in the latest installment of ONE Friday Fights, Songchainoi brought the fight to his opposite number in the third and final stanza.
He caught his foe with inch-perfect counters, even sending him onto the ropes with a cracking left hand. From there, the Kiatsongrit star rammed his foot through the gas pedal to secure another impressive win on the global stage.
Apart from the all-action headline attraction, the world's largest martial arts organization's latest spectacle inside the Mecca of Muay Thai delivered eight highlight-reel finishes – seven knockouts in Muay Thai and a lone submission from the night's curtain raiser.
The entire ONE Friday Fights 71 replay is available on the promotion's official YouTube channel and the ONE Super App. Geo-restrictions may apply.
ONE Friday Fights 71 full results:
Songchainoi Kiatsongrit beats Rak Erawan via UD (Muay Thai – 116-pound catchweight)
Petlampun Muadablampang beats Silangern Lanna Waterside via TKO at 1:27 of R1 (Muay Thai – 128-pound catchweight)
Chartpayak Saksatoon beats Pornsanae Sor Phumipat via KO at 1:08 of R1 (Muay Thai – 127-pound catchweight)
Yoddoi Kaewsamrit beats Chokdee Maxjandee via KO at 1:10 of R2 (Muay Thai – atomweight)
Padejsuk Looksuan beats Pettaweesak Sangmorakot via UD (Muay Thai – 126-pound catchweight)
Rifdean Masdor beats Petaek Sitbigjasskonrakpathum via KO at 2:49 of R1 (Muay Thai – 113-pound catchweight)
Ilyas Musaev beats Superball Wankhongohm MBK via KO at 0:55 of R2 (Muay Thai – 142-pound catchweight)
Abdulla Dayakaev beats Ongbak Fairtex via KO at 2:34 of R1 (Muay Thai – bantamweight)
Asadula Imangazaliev beats Petmuangsri Wankhongohm MBK via KO at 1:45 of R1 (Muay Thai – 133-pound catchweight)
Issei Yonaha beats Timur Chuikov via UD (Muay Thai – 124-pound catchweight)
Ivan Bondarchuk beats Nachyn Sat via UD (MMA – featherweight)
Faine Mesquita beats Yuka Okutomi via rear-naked choke at 2:15 of R1 (MMA – strawweight)