Thai striker Chartpayak Saksatoon believes he's finally cracked the code on defeating foreign opponents, and he plans to prove it when he faces Iraq's Ayad Albadr in the co-main event of ONE Friday Fights 138 on January 16. The 27-year-old Kiatpet representative enters the strawweight Muay Thai clash at Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium armed with renewed confidence, convinced that his power will overwhelm Albadr once the Iraqi striker feels his shots. With an 8-1 ONE Championship record since his December 2023 debut and multiple knockouts already on his résumé, Chartpayak understands that another spectacular finish could push him significantly closer to earning that life-changing US$100,000 contract.

The Path To Redemption

Chartpayak Saksatoon stormed through his first seven ONE Championship appearances like a wrecking ball, collecting victories with ruthless efficiency and delivering four knockouts that had people whispering about contract opportunities. The Kiatpet product looked unstoppable until June 2025, when Lebanese powerhouse Ramadan Ondash changed everything. In a wild exchange of punches, Chartpayak got caught flush and tasted defeat for the first time in his promotional campaign.

The loss cut deeper than most because of what the fight represented. Chartpayak had viewed the Ondash matchup as his breakthrough moment – “the most important one in my life,” as he would say – only to watch those dreams crumble when he engaged recklessly and paid the price. The 27-year-old Thai striker spent the following months analyzing what went wrong, focusing specifically on emotional control and defensive awareness that had abandoned him in that crucial exchange.

Those painful lessons manifested in his November redemption against Uzbekistan's Samandar Khasanov. Chartpayak dominated across three complete rounds, implementing a disciplined game plan that showcased technical superiority without the reckless aggression that had doomed him against Ondash. More importantly, he'd now faced world-class foreign strikers twice and absorbed valuable intel about their patterns and tendencies.

"After facing foreigners back-to-back, I've learned that you can't let them take the lead," Chartpayak said. "If you let them start the exchange, you're at a disadvantage immediately. You have to use your technical superiority to beat them to the punch, press the action, and really commit to your strikes. After winning my last fight, I feel like I've finally figured out how to handle their style. My confidence is at an all-time high."

Albadr Brings Dangerous Momentum

Chartpayak now applies those hard-earned lessons against another foreign threat in Ayad Albadr, who brings his own momentum after stringing together three consecutive victories following a difficult start to his ONE Championship journey. The 24-year-old Iraqi striker lost his first two promotional bouts after debuting in January 2023, but he's turned things around dramatically – especially in his last two outings where he's looked absolutely frightening.

Albadr scored first-round knockouts over Nuapet TDed99 in September and Petlampun Muadablampang in October, showcasing the kind of finishing power and confidence that makes opponents reconsider their approach. The Team Mehdi Zatout representative has grown increasingly comfortable throwing leather in ONE Championship's 4-ounce gloves, and his recent performances suggest he's figured out the timing and distance needed to land fight-ending blows.

Chartpayak recognizes the threat standing across from him. Albadr isn't just another slugger hoping to land lucky punches – he’s a technically sound knockout artist who sets traps and exploits defensive lapses with calculated precision. The Thai veteran has watched tape extensively and identified specific patterns he'll need to counter if he wants to avoid becoming Albadr's third consecutive knockout victim.

"I can't underestimate Ayad Albadr at all. He's not a one-dimensional brawler like some other foreign fighters. He's well-rounded and very tricky," Chartpayak said. "Look at his last fight against Petchlamphun – he completely outplayed him. He faked a body shot that made Petchlamphun drop his guard and then went upstairs with a head kick. I've prepared a specific plan to handle those tricks. The key is to stay composed and read his timing so I don't get caught by his speed.”

Power Will Make The Difference

Despite respecting Albadr's technical skills and recent knockout streak, Chartpayak believes he's identified a critical vulnerability that could determine the fight's outcome. The 27-year-old Thai striker thinks his opponent struggles when absorbing clean power shots, and that could prove catastrophic against someone who's authored multiple knockouts throughout his 69-17-1 career.

Chartpayak plans to test Albadr's chin early and often. If the Iraqi starts showing signs of fading after eating some shots, the Kiatpet affiliate intends to pour on the pressure until he secures the finish. Another spectacular knockout would not only extend his winning streak, but it would also make a powerful statement to ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong about deserving a contract.

"I'm coming in with my full Muay Thai arsenal," Chartpayak said. "I'll be aggressive and look to strike first as planned, but I'm going to be much more clinical and tight with my defense. I'm confident that once he feels my power, he's going to start fading. If I land a clean one, it's going to be a knockdown or a KO for sure."

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