Panpadej Looksuan has hit a rough patch, but rather than shy away from adversity, he is using it as fuel for what he hopes will be a career-altering performance. This Friday, August 14, he steps into a genuinely difficult assignment against Khunpon Aekmuangnon in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 166, live from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium.

The 24-year-old standout enters the flyweight Muay Thai bout on a two-bout skid, facing a taller, hungrier opponent looking to bounce back from his own recent setback, and both men understand there's far more than pride riding on the outcome this time around.

A Height Disadvantage Meets A Detailed Game Plan

After opening his ONE Friday Fights run with five straight victories, Panpadej dropped back-to-back decisions, and now he must find a way past Khunpon's two-inch height advantage.

Rather than panic, he's leaned on his head coach's guidance, studying tape of Superlek's strategy and first-round victory over 6-foot-4 phenom Nabil Anane at ONE Friday Fights 22 in June 2023 for clues on how to close the gap.

"Khunpon is tall and very skilled. I've never fought a fighter this tall before, so I'm relying on Kru Fahsai to help me build a game plan. He told me to study the tape of the fight that Superlek defeated Nabil," Panpadej explained.

"As we saw in his last fight against Isannuea, he doesn't handle body shots too well.”

Exploiting A Real Weakness

That assessment holds real weight.

Khunpon had rattled off four straight wins since his June 2025 debut, only for Isannuea Sor Sasiwat to stop him in the first round this past April with a well-placed body shot, exposing what Panpadej and his coach believe is a legitimate vulnerability.

The pair have drilled techniques around that weakness at Looksuan Muay Thai Camp in Bangkok, hoping to get Panpadej's career back on track.

"In this fight, I have to take some risks to get inside. Go to the body, head, and chop at his legs," Panpadej said. "[I need to throw] low kicks, teeps to the body, and maybe a few elbows here and there. Since he's so tall, I'm just worried my elbows might not reach.

Eyeing Unfinished Business

Should Panpadej execute his plan and secure the finish, he already has his sights set on a specific rematch.

Chartpayak Saksatoon is the last man to defeat him, having eked out a split decision this past June in a fight Panpadej believes could have gone differently.

"I lost to Chartpayak in my last fight, and it's still bugging me," Panpadej confessed. "I really want that rematch.”

Should he get past Khunpon at ONE Friday Fights 166, he may get that wish.