Tobias headlines ONE Friday Fights 173 against Tonglampoon FA Group in a strawweight Muay Thai main event inside Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium, arriving with a new outlook on life, a new wife, and plenty of motivation to make a statement.
Dionatha Santos Tobias Comes Home A Different Man, Ready To Headline ONE Friday Fights 173
It's been well over a year since Dionatha Santos Tobias last competed under ONE Championship’s bright lights, but the Brazilian standout is finally back, and this Friday, October 2, he steps into a far bigger spotlight than anyone expected.
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A Life-Changing Break From The Ring
Tobias' last appearance at ONE Friday Fights came in June 2025, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss.
Following that match, he disappeared from ONE Championship’s spotlight. But he didn’t walk away from the sport. Not by a long shot.
First, the Brazilian returned to Thailand’s regional circuit to sharpen his skills and gain valuable experience. And then, he finally did something he hadn’t done in years: he went home for a much-needed break and enjoyed time with his loved one.
"After my last fight that I won, I came back to Brazil for a few months, like seven months," the 26-year-old fighter said. "I didn't see my family for four years, so I stayed a little longer and did some seminars over there. I got married, too.”
A Dangerous Test Awaits His Return
Feeling refreshed and newly married, Tobias returned to Thailand in February ready to get back to work, picking up additional wins that ultimately positioned him for Friday's main event assignment against Tonglampoon.
The 22-year-old Thai standout brings genuine durability, far more experience than his 48-15 record suggests, and a diverse offensive arsenal. But Tobias believes that won't be enough to get the job done.
"He's very tough. He has a very good left-right kick to the leg, good punches, and everything. But he's just very tough, you know? Just being tough doesn't win anything. Being tough doesn't win everything. You have to have more," Tobias said.
"In his last couple of fights, the chin was the problem, so maybe. And I'm sure that he thinks I'm going to punch only the body instead. The plan is to knock him out, but if this doesn't work, I'm happy if I win.”
A Special Night With His Biggest Supporter Ringside
Beyond the magnitude of headlining his first ONE Friday Fights main event, Tobias will have an extra source of motivation in the building: his new wife, who will be watching him compete live at Lumpinee Stadium.
Ironically, Tobias may need to worry more about her nerves than his own.
"She's going to be screaming because she gets more nervous than everybody else. She cannot breathe, so I'm scared that she's going to pass out. She needs to have someone to hold her or someone she can grab," he explained. "She loves me, so that's a good thing."
