Soner "Golden Boy" Sen has an opportunity to deliver a devastating blow to Nontachai Jitmuangnon's confidence at ONE Friday Fights 130 this coming Friday, October 24. The Turkish striker faces the Thai veteran in the main event at Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium, where he looks to earn a slice of redemption after his trilogy loss to Worapon Lukjaoporongtom this past August. But the stakes extend beyond personal redemption – Sen’s teammate Abdulla Dayakaev recently demolished Nontachai with a 24-second knockout, and a victory would give Team Mehdi Zatout a clean 2-0 sweep over the Thai stud.

Taking recent lessons into battle

No athlete likes to lose, but Soner Sen picked up some valuable lessons from his August defeat to Worapon Lukjaoporongtom, who claimed victory in their trilogy bout via unanimous decision.

The Thai technician neutralized Sen's aggression in the third and final round of their 142-pound Muay Thai clash despite both warriors unleashing everything in their arsenal – including spinning elbows, head kicks, and relentless clinch work interrupted only by accidental fouls.

That loss forced the Turkish striker to re-evaluate his approach, particularly against elite Thai clinch fighters who thrive in close-quarters combat. Sen has spent his training camp addressing those weaknesses, focusing on maintaining distance, and using his striking range to keep rivals at bay and prevent them from imposing their strategies.

"I have been trying to learn from my mistakes and have been working on them. I was focused on how to keep my opponent at a distance because I don't want to get into clinch work with Muay Thai fighters," Sen explained.

A game of patience awaits

Sen understands exactly what he's facing. Nontachai Jitmuangnon arrives desperate for revenge following his recent setback. In fact, he has dropped to bantamweight specifically to rebuild momentum and eventually force a rematch with the Turk’s Team Mehdi Zatout stablemate, Abdulla Dayakaev.

The 29-year-old has studied his opponent's tendencies extensively, identifying both immense strengths and exploitable weaknesses. Sen respects Nontachai's speed, particularly his right kick and right hand, but he believes the Thai lacks the elite-level clinch skills that made Worapon so difficult to handle. In theory, that gap creates opportunity.

Rather than pressing forward with his typical aggression, Sen plans to patiently wait for Nontachai to commit before responding with thunderous strikes designed to break his opponent's spirit.

"I think that Nontachai's right kick and right hand are very fast. But I don't think Nontachai is very good at clinching like Worapon does. If he tries to come in and do some clinching, I will keep my distance with counterattacks, and I want to finish the fight," Sen said. "My game plan is that when Nontachai attacks me, I want to destroy his game plan and come up with counterattacks using my hands, jabs, or hooks.”

Fighting for family support in the stadium

Beyond strategic adjustments and team pride, Sen carries personal motivation into the ring – his wife will be watching the battle inside Lumpinee Stadium, providing the emotional fuel that has become his greatest asset. She's not just his biggest supporter but an integral part of his preparation, handling logistics and nutrition that allow him to focus exclusively on training.

The Turkish striker's life transformed after marriage, eliminating distractions and creating structure that maximizes his championship potential. He once managed every detail himself, from meal prep to equipment management, but now his wife handles those responsibilities.

That support system has proven invaluable, especially when it comes to making weight, where proper nutrition and meal timing can make the difference between optimal performance and depleted energy.

"Before I got married, I had to prepare everything myself," Sen offered. "But now, I just need to get my bag and go and train. When I am [trying to make] weight, my wife really helps with the food."

With his wife in the stadium and his Team Mehdi Zatout brothers supporting him, Sen’s motivation to score his 25th career victory is at an all-time high