Nong-O Gaiyanghadao Grateful For Opportunity To Promote Muay Thai In U.S.

ONE Championship is making its return to American primetime thanks to its partnership with streaming platform Amazon Prime Video, and the first card will take place on August 26.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans need little prompt to be excited about the main event of ONE on Prime Video 1 as ONE flyweight champion Adriano Moraes will look to fend off MMA icon Demetrious Johnson for a second time.

Joining them atop the marquee is ONE bantamweight Muay Thai king Nong-O Gaiyanghadao taking on Englishman Liam Harrison in his sixth title defense.

Nong-O recently opened up on the opportunity to promote Muay Thai to North American combat sports fans and is adamant about gunning for a highlight-reel worthy knockout for that purpose.

"I want to win by knockout in front of the American combat sports fans. I'll try to knock Liam Harrison out and stay at the top," Nong-O said in a recent interview.

"This will be a great opportunity for Westerners to get to know Muay Thai better and to promote Muay Thai more widely around the world. I would like to show them that Muay Thai is one of the most dangerous [styles] compared to other combat sports."

Despite being one of the most widely utilized striking styles in the world of MMA, Muay Thai has yet to reach the heights in terms of popularity that MMA has in the United States.

Almost surprisingly, the U.S. has produced some big names in the sport like Ky Hollenbeck, Tiffany Van Soest, Miriam Nakamoto, Joe Schilling and the now-retired Kevin Ross.

It should also be noted that ONE Championship's current stable of Muay Thai fighters has two Americans namely Ongjen Topic and the great Janet Todd.

Topic signed with the Singapore-based promotion in 2018 after putting up a stellar resume that featured accolades such as the Lion Fight lightweight strap, WBC Muay Thai North American super featherweight title, WKA North American lightweight belt and the Friday Night Fights lightweight championship.

As for Todd, ONE Championship fans are very familiar with her as she holds the women's atomweight kickboxing title plus the interim atomweight Muay Thai championship, winning the latter via unanimous decision at ONE 159 against newcomer Lara Fernandez.

At age 35, Nong-O's other goal is to become a household name like compatriot Rodtang Jitmuangnon, who reached global status after his bloody three-round war with Danial Williams at ONE on TNT I in 2021.

"I hope [I can become a global sensation like Rodtang]. I want to have more American fans and introduce myself to the fans who still don't know me... I want them to know me and my style well," he stated.

On the August 26 card, Nong-O will not be alone in his quest to bring Muay Thai to the American mainstream as he will be joined by ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix semifinalists Rodtang and Savvas Michael duking it out for a spot in the finals.

An alternate bout for the aforementioned Grand Prix will also take place in the opening match of the main card as the United Kingdom's Jonathan Haggerty takes on Amir Naseri.

The two-fight lead card also features the catchweight Muay Thai fight between Diandra Martin and Amber Kitchen.

With four explosive Muay Thai fights on the card, Nong-O's hopes of helping grow the sport in North America is very possible.