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Tom Taylor

Nicolas Atkin

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, one of the most accomplished champions in ONE Championship history, will soon return to the promotion.
The Thai will make his comeback this March, at one of the promotion’s events inside the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, a source told the Post.
It is unclear at this time who he will fight.
Talk of Sam-A’s return to ONE began with a recent Instagram post from the Thai, in which he vowed to win another title with the promotion.
“No matter how hard it is, I’ll make it,” he wrote. “See you soon.”












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by SCMP Martial Arts (@scmpmartialarts)



At 39 years old, he faces an uphill climb back to the title, but he certainly knows a thing or two about winning belts in the Singapore-based organisation.
Sam-A, who has been training in Muay Thai since he was nine years old, first got his hands on ONE gold in 2018, when he became the promotion’s first flyweight Muay Thai champion with a decision victory over Sergio Wielzen.
ONE: Wiratchai gets quick return, buys wife wedding ring with bonus
While he lost that belt to England’s Jonathan Haggerty in his first title defence, he then found new life one weight class south, at strawweight, where he first became the division’s inaugural kickboxing champion with a decision win over Wang Junguang in 2019, and then its inaugural Muay Thai champion with a decision victory over Rocky Ogden in 2020.
He defended his strawweight Muay Thai belt once, with a second-round TKO of Josh Tonna in 2020, but surrendered the title to fellow Thai Prajanchai PK. Saenchai the following year.
After that setback, Sam-A announced his retirement from international competition, and relinquished the strawweight Muay Thai belt in the process.

He has since competed in two bouts in Bangkok’s Rajadamnern Stadium, winning both by decision, but has evidently found himself pining for the bright lights of ONE once again.
While it is unclear who he will fight in his comeback bout, he has plenty of options.
With two victories in the rear-view mirror, and plenty of residual clout from his two-sport reign, he could conceivably be granted a title shot against strawweight Muay Thai champion Joseph Lasiri, whom he knocked out in 2018, or strawweight kickboxing king Jon Di Bella.
However, he could also receive a tune-up fight with another contender on his return.


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ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Sam-A Gaiyanghadao set to return for March fight at Lumpinee

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao hoists the ONE Championship strawweight kickboxing belt. Photos: ONE Championship. 

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao successfully defends his Muay Thai title with a TKO of Josh Tonna. 

ONE Championship: Rodtang Jitmuangnon gets engaged to fiancée with 2 title fights on calendar

Rodtang Jitmuangnon is engaged to marry fiancée and fellow fighter Aida Looksaikongdin. Photo: Facebook/ONE Championship

Rodtang Jitmuangnon lands a punch on Jiduo Yibu.

ONE Championship: Shannon Wiratchai gets quick return, buys wife wedding ring with bonus

Shannon Wiratchai delivers blows on the ground to Pouriya Golpour.

Shannon Wiratchai’s arm is raised after his victory over Pouriya Golpour.

Shannon Wiratchai walks out at ONE Lumpinee.

Shannon Wiratchai surveys the crowd at ONE Lumpinee.

ONE Championship: Duangsompong beats Batman as Ferrari Fairtex suffers nasty KO at Lumpinee

Fabio Reis walks off after a knockout of Ferrari Fairtex at ONE Lumpinee. Photos: ONE Championship

 Duangsompong Jitmuangnon celebrates beating Batman Or. Atchariya at ONE Lumpinee.

ONE Championship: Ham Seo-hee tells Itsuki Hirata ‘make weight’ as fight is rebooked

Itsuki Hirata (left) and Ham Seo-hee at the ONE 163 ceremonial weigh-ins in Singapore. Photos: ONE Championship

Itsuki Hirata poses on the scale at the ONE 163 ceremonial weigh-ins.

ONE Championship: Anatoly Malykhin has ‘huge advantage over Arjan Bhullar’ says Buchecha

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida parades around the cage after a submission win over Kirill Grishenko. Photos: ONE Championship. 

Anatoly Malykhin punches Reinier de Ridder at ONE Fight Night 5 in Manila.

Arjan Bhullar holds the ONE heavyweight belt after a victory over Brandon Vera.

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida submits Kirill Grishenko. 

Sport

Martial Arts

Muay Thai

Kickboxing

The 39-year-old retired from international competition in 2021, but is now determined to win another ONE title ‘no matter how hard it is’
Thai previously held ONE’s flyweight and strawweight Muay Thai belts, as well as the promotion’s strawweight kickboxing title


Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, one of the most accomplished strikers in ONE Championship history, is expected to return to the promotion for a fight in Lumpinee Stadium.
