Thai veteran Rambong Sor Therapat steps back into the ring at ONE Friday Fights 128 this Friday, October 10, carrying the weight of a devastating knockout loss and the hunger to prove that the setback has only made him stronger. The 28-year-old faces Scotland’s Stephen “El Matador” Irvine in the main event — a 130-pound Muay Thai clash at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.

Failure as fuel: Rambong’s transformation after heartbreak

Rambong had looked unstoppable. After stringing together seven straight victories, it seemed like the Bangkok native was on the verge of securing a life-changing six-figure deal with ONE Championship. But everything changed in an instant when Suriyanlek Por Yenying landed a thunderous overhand right in Round 2 of their July 2025 bout at ONE Friday Fights 115.

The knockout forced Rambong into a period of deep introspection. Three months later, he insists the defeat became his greatest teacher.

“After that loss, my confidence slightly decreased. But it also made me realize that failure can be a driving force that pushes you to come back and fight again,” said Rambong. “For this fight, I’ve worked incredibly hard to improve myself. I’m training much harder than before.”

Studying “El Matador” in search of weaknesses

That reflection extended to analyzing his opponent. Irvine, who trains alongside former ONE World Title challenger Nico Carrillo at Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy, is a powerful striker with a 29-4 professional record and a four-fight winning streak.

Rambong has studied Irvine’s style extensively, recognizing his sharp boxing skills while identifying areas he plans to exploit.

“Stephen Irvine is a tough opponent. He’s beaten several elite fighters. He has very sharp hands, especially his left hook, and he’s also bigger and taller than me,” Rambong noted. “But his weakness is that he can also be hurt by heavy strikes, especially to the face and body.”

Although quick to praise his rival, Rambong is confident the Scot has never faced a Muay Thai fighter quite like him. Known for his relentless forward pressure, the Bangkok fighter aims to overwhelm “El Matador” with his aggressive style.

“He’s mostly fought technical fighters. He’s never faced a relentless brawler like me. I think he’ll struggle if I put on the pressure. Of course, I have to be cautious—his weapons are no joke,” warned Rambong. “Even though I lost my last fight, I’m confident I can stop Stephen. My heart is second to none.”

Fighting for more than victory

Beyond redemption and financial rewards, Rambong carries a personal motivation: a promise he made to his family after tragedy struck. When his older brother went to prison, he vowed to raise his nephew.

Initially, everything went well. But a tragic accident a few months ago changed everything.

“I hired my wife’s mother to look after him. She took him to a longan orchard, and while she was picking fruit, she wasn’t watching him. It was raining, and he drowned,” recalled Rambong.

The loss of the boy — a second-grader who used to cheer for him after every fight — became his emotional fuel. As he prepares for his 82nd professional win, Rambong is determined to honor that memory.

“He was so important to me. I hope he’s watching this fight. I’ll give it everything I have for him. If I win, I plan to enter the monkhood to dedicate merit to my parents and my nephew,” he said.