Thai striking star Tengnueng Fairtex makes his return at the upcoming ONE Friday Fights 129 on October 17, and he is determined to get a slice of redemption. The 33-year-old hopes to unlock his true potential, as he is moving down in weight to face Myanmar’s teen sensation “The Phenom” Tun Min Aung in the main event and believes his strategic adjustments will overcome his young, aggressive rival.

Fresh start after devastating setback

Tengnueng Fairtex enters this main event showdown carrying the burden of a crushing defeat that forced him to re-evaluate his entire approach. Following his knockout loss to undefeated Russian tower Maksim Bakhtin at ONE Friday Fights 121 this past August, the Thai veteran recognized a massive problem – competing in the lightweight division put him at a severe disadvantage.

Throughout his ONE Championship run, the Nakhon Sawan native found himself constantly outsized, as he squared off against three taller opponents with longer reach advantages and heavier frames, which neutralized his offensive weapons. Fighting bigger men was not only difficult, but it also robbed Tengnueng of what made him dangerous in the first place. That painful realization led to a critical decision.

This upcoming showdown with Tun Min Aung represents more than just another opportunity; it’s a chance to prove he made the right choice by moving down in weight and recapturing the form that built his legendary 103-15-4 record.

"I decided to gradually cut my weight down to 165 pounds for this fight because fighting didn't feel as fun when I was too [heavy]. I was at a disadvantage in terms of size, height, and impact force," Tengnueng explained.

Lesser weight, more danger

Tengnueng, a multiple-time THAI FIGHT Champion, plans to drop down to another weight class, but he is being strategic about it. Rather than making a drastic cut straight to featherweight, the Fairtex Training Center product is taking a measured approach by first competing at 165 pounds to find his optimal competition weight.

So far, the early signs look promising. Shedding excess weight has made Tengnueng's body tighter, faster, and more explosive. The Thai striker feels rejuvenated, moving with a quickness that disappeared when he carried too much mass in heavy weight categories.

That renewed speed combines with his devastating southpaw power, most notably his fearsome left body kicks and crushing left hands, which have punished countless adversaries throughout his career. Now those weapons operate with the efficiency they were always meant to possess.

"This lighter division makes my body leaner and will help increase my speed. Previously, when fighting in the heavier division, I had too much body fat," he said. "Right now, my confidence is 100 percent. My body is in perfect shape, and I am ready to secure the win again.”

Experience trumps youth in veteran's eyes

Tun Min Aung enters the main event showdown with a 45-2-7 record and a reputation as a terrifying headhunter who marches forward in pursuit of the knockout. At just 19 years old, the Lethwei specialist represents the new generation of strikers who are looking to emerge in the spotlight and put the established veterans out to pasture.

But Tengnueng refuses to be intimidated by youth or statistics. With nearly two decades of experience and over 100 professional bouts, the crafty southpaw has seen every style imaginable and survived the sport's most brutal tests. He has researched his opponent extensively and sees an area of weakness that could play into his hands.

The Thai veteran remembers when Abdelali "Black Diamond" Zahidi connected with a perfectly timed kick to the jaw that shut off Tun Min Aung’s lights at ONE Friday Fights 88 last November. Tengnueng noticed that the teenager dropped his right hand low and left his head as a completely open target. Should the 19-year-old make that mistake again, then lightning could strike twice.

"I've studied and seen that he made a mistake once and was caught with a head kick, which led to a knockout loss. If he is careless again, I might be able to exploit that spot," Tengnueng offered. "My fighting style will remain the same, I will go toe-to-toe with my opponent, even if it hurts, and I'm ready to attack in every way."