Sornsueknoi Vows To Keep His Foot On The Gas In His First ONE Friday Fights Main Event

Sornsueknoi FA Group learned a painful lesson the hard way, and this Friday, September 18, he's determined to make sure it doesn't repeat itself.

The 31-year-old finally headlines his first main event at ONE Friday Fights 171, facing fellow Thai standout Klarob NuiCafeboran in a flyweight Muay Thai showdown inside Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. With a chip on his shoulder from his last outing and a golden opportunity now in front of him, Sornsueknoi is determined to leave absolutely nothing to chance this time around.

A Costly Lesson From His Last Outing

Sornsueknoi enters Friday carrying a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Back in July, the veteran dropped a heartbreaking split decision to Rambong Sor Therapat, a result he still believes should have gone the other way. But rather than blame the judges, Sornsueknoi points the finger squarely at himself, having eased off the gas at the wrong moment.

"My last fight with Rambong was super close. We both pressed forward and kept trading blows the entire time. I felt like I landed cleaner strikes in the first two rounds, so I decided to back off and control the pace in the final round to seal a points decision, knowing I couldn't knock him out," Sornsueknoi explained.

"When the judges declared Rambong the winner, I was shocked, but I accepted the decision. It was my own mistake for deciding to back off in that last round. If I had kept the pressure on like I did in the first two, I believe I would've gotten the win. It was a huge lesson that in this promotion, you have to show that hunger to win throughout the entire fight to earn the judges' favor.”

A Full-Throttle Approach Against A Familiar Style

That lesson has clearly stuck, and Sornsueknoi promises to keep his foot firmly on the gas against Klarob.

The two share a similar blueprint, both known for pressing forward behind heavy, accurate punching. However, Sornsueknoi believes he's spotted a flaw in his opponent's technique, noting that Klarob tends to loop his hooks wide enough to see coming.

Preparing for that stylistic clash has meant sharpening a specific part of his own game. Training out of FA Group, Sornsueknoi has focused heavily on his elbows to counter Klarob's punching output, while also bringing in outside expertise to elevate his hands entirely.

"I've prepared really well for this one. Besides working on elbows to counter Klarob's punches, our camp brought in an international boxing coach to run specialized drills for our fighters. It's the first time I've taken boxing training seriously, and I'm confident it'll make my punches sharper and faster than ever," Sornsueknoi said.

“The fight is going to be action-packed because Klarob loves to march forward and trade, just like me. It'll come down to who can land first and force the other to back up when we meet in the center of the ring. I'm confident in my toughness. If we stand toe-to-toe, I can take his power. I'll use my elbows, boxing, and superior experience to apply pressure until he's the one backing up.”

A Career-Defining Opportunity Awaits

Despite some recent mixed results, Sornsueknoi understands the magnitude of what's in front of him this Friday.

A commanding performance in his first career main event could carry major implications, and he promises to give it everything he’s got at Lumpinee Stadium.

"I was thrilled when I found out I'd be headlining ONE Friday Fights for the first time," he said.

"I promise to put on the most exciting fight possible and not let the promotion down for giving me this chance. Deep down, I'd love to get the finish, but I don't want to make predictions. Let's just watch it unfold in the ring. One thing I can guarantee is that you won't see me backing down in this fight."