‘I Want To Have A Place Up There’ – How Songchainoi Fought Through Adversity To Reach His World Title Dream
· Yahoo Sports
Long before the blinding lights of Tokyo, before the deafening roar of a hostile crowd, and before a coveted World Title hung within his grasp, Songchainoi Kiatsongrit was simply a sickly child desperately trying to breathe easier.
On April 29 at ONE SAMURAI 1, the Thai standout will challenge Nadaka Yoshinari for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship inside the iconic Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
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Serving as the biggest opportunity of his professional career, the blockbuster matchup presents a chance to exact revenge and claim gold on enemy soil against one of the most technically brilliant strikers in the sport.
But this monumental moment was never guaranteed. It had to be built slowly, painfully, and against massive odds.
A Fight That Began With Survival, Not Dreams
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Born in Samut Prakan, Thailand, Songchainoi did not grow up looking like a future star in combat sports. As a child, he battled chronic allergies and possessed a fragile frame that struggled to keep up with the demands of everyday life.
Muay Thai was never meant to be an ultimate dream. It operated simply as a mechanism to survive, to grow stronger, and to feel normal.
The 25-year-old said:
“I started boxing when I was young. It helped me build discipline from an early age, but it was very hard.
“My family didn’t really approve at first. They said, ‘We have money. You don’t need to do this. Don’t get hurt.’”
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Yet, something about the “art of eight limbs” kept pulling him back. As a young boy, he would hop on his father’s motorcycle, assuming they were just going for a casual ride. Instead, they would consistently end up at local temple fights, where the atmosphere felt raw and unforgiving, and every single bout felt deeply personal.
Those gritty nights planted a seed, and it only took one fateful encounter to make it grow.
Songchainoi recalled:
“There was an auntie who approached us. She was a boxing gym owner. She asked, ‘Do you want to try boxing? Let me see how you look.’ She had me stretch like boxers do, and then she said, ‘You can be a boxer. Your body is a good fit.’ She asked me again if I wanted to try.
“I turned to look at my father because I didn’t know what to answer. At first, I shook my head, then I nodded.”
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Built By Family, Not Just The Gym
While many fighters are essentially raised inside gyms, Songchainoi was built at home.
His parents served as far more than just casual supporters. They were an integral part of the grueling process, actively shaping his discipline long before the world ever witnessed his talent.
He explained:
“My family supported me a lot, especially in the beginning. My parents would wake me up at 5:00 a.m. so I could go jogging. My dad would take me running. I would run to the gym, train, and run back, about 10 kilometers [6.2 miles] every day.”
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Even as his technical skills developed, one glaring problem never disappeared: his diminutive size.
Standing at just 5-foot-1, Songchainoi was almost always giving something away, whether it was reach, strength, or physical presence. For years, that discrepancy cast a heavy shadow of doubt over how far he could genuinely go.
At one crucial point, stepping away felt like the safer choice. But instead of walking away, the Thai warrior adjusted. He meticulously studied superior fighters, sharpened his impeccable timing, and learned exactly how to close the distance to turn his natural disadvantages into potent weapons.
He said:
“The downside I had faced was the level of seriousness. It was really hard.”
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ONE Friday Fights Changed Everything
The ultimate turning point arrived when he stepped onto the ONE Friday Fights stage for the very first time in January 2023.
The blistering pace and three-round format unlocked a completely different version of Songchainoi — a relentless force built on aggression, heavy pressure, and a fearless willingness to take risks.
After scoring five consecutive wins and producing multiple highlight-reel finishes, he earned a life-changing US$100,000 contract to compete on the global roster of the world’s largest martial arts organization.
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To date, he has compiled an astonishing 10 wins across 11 promotional appearances, rightfully earning the opportunity to challenge for the World Title.
Alongside those stellar results, the weekly spectacle introduced him to a massive global audience, and with that immense exposure came growing, passionate support from fans who began following his inspiring journey every step of the way.
The Kiatsongrit Muay Thai Gym product added:
“I will do it for everyone, whether those who support me through the chats, or even the motorcycle taxi drivers who have been shouting out for me when I go jogging. Those who fist bumped with me. I will do my best on this day and take the belt back home for them.”
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Lessons In Defeat, Fuel For The Future
Even amid his overwhelming success, there were harsh lessons he could not avoid.
Songchainoi suffered his lone promotional defeat to Thai rival Numsurin Chor Ketwina at ONE Friday Fights 122 last August. That frustrating setback temporarily cost him a shot at the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title.
However, it forced him to confront something much deeper than a simple loss.
He admitted:
“I was really disappointed. But I did not blame anyone. Partly, I blame it on myself for being reckless and took him for granted. Being confident is the best thing you can have but being overconfident could be the two-sided sword.”
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It was a tremendously hard lesson, but an entirely necessary one. And it fundamentally changed him.
Returning stronger, more measured, and acutely aware of his surroundings, he earned a dominant victory over Salai Htan Khee Shein just two months later to re-enter title contention.
The Dream Becomes Real
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His competitive hunger only grew fiercer when the World Title finally came back into view.
After his setback against Numsurin, Songchainoi watched closely as his rival moved on to challenge Nadaka for the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE 173 last November. The Japanese superstar emerged victorious on home soil, securing the gold and extending his incredible undefeated run to 40.
Nadaka had also defeated Songchainoi in their previous meeting outside of ONE three years earlier, adding a compelling layer of redemption to what now lies ahead.
Reflecting on that exact moment, Songchainoi said:
“When I saw him become a World Champion, what popped up in my head was, ‘I want that.’ I wanted to stand there looking cool. I want to have a spot up there.”
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Now, that moment is no longer a distant fantasy.
Nadaka’s blinding speed, precision, and elite fight IQ present a complex puzzle few have ever solved. Fighting in Japan, directly in front of a partisan crowd, only amplifies the immense pressure.
But Songchainoi is certainly not shrinking from the spotlight. If anything, he is stepping boldly toward it:
“I have prepared myself a lot. He is very fast and precise. That’s what makes him special. But I believe in my punches. If I can reach him and strike him fully on point, we will see how well he could withstand my punches.
“I want both. I would love to beat him and to get the championship. It is my goal and purpose to fulfill.”
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