MMA
Petnamkhong's second main event carries far bigger stakes than the first
ONE ChampionshipPetnamkhong Sor Maneekhot headlines his second straight card against Wanchainoi Pongsuphan PK in a strawweight Muay Thai main event at The Inner Circle 26, streaming live in Asia primetime this Friday, August 14, from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. A win would push the 22-year-old Laotian-Thai star closer to a US$100,000 main roster contract, the same prize his opponent is chasing on the other side of the ring.
Petnamkhong enters as a clear underdog against a 101-fight veteran from PK Saenchai Muaythaigym, a gap in experience he openly acknowledges without letting it shake his confidence.
“I admit that on paper, I might be the underdog in terms of technical skills and experience. But the one thing I am never an underdog in is my heart,†he said.
Petnamkhong chases redemption on a bigger stage at The Inner Circle 26
The stakes carry extra weight given what it took Petnamkhong to get back to this position. Three consecutive losses between August 2024 and February 2025 forced him into a deliberate break from competition to rebuild his confidence before returning.
Every fight since that break has ended in his favor, and a win over a veteran of Wanchainoi's caliber would represent the clearest validation yet that the turnaround is real.
“This comeback happened because of our team. Even though we are a small team, everyone worked together with unity and dedication, which pushed me to bounce back,†he said.
Beyond the contract and the record, Petnamkhong has said representing Laos on ONE Championship's global stage carries a significance that goes well beyond his own career trajectory.
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
diegolopesmma on InstagramUFC lightweight newcomer Diego Lopes has spoken about the logistics of his move up to face Charles Oliveira for the BMF title.
In the main event of UFC 335, Charles Oliveira will defend the BMF title against Diego Lopes. We all know Lopes to be an entertaining fighter to watch in the cage but after twice failing to take the featherweight belt from Alexander Volkanovski, he's ready for a new challenge.
RELATED: Diego Lopes expecting a war against Charles Oliveira at UFC 335: ‘Let's see who goes down first'
Charles Oliveira, of course, is a seasoned lightweight veteran, a former champion, and someone who will be looking to take advantage of any rust Diego Lopes may have in this new weight class.
In a recent interview, though, Diego Lopes discussed how he plans to adapt to his new surroundings.
Diego Lopes discusses his lightweight switch
“Height-wise, I don't feel bad,†Lopes told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. “I think I'm one of the tallest fighters in the division. I think out of all the top-five fighters, I'm the same height or taller. I think Pimblett is the only one bigger than me height-wise and weight-wise, but I still need to adapt, and I don't think it will be a problem.â€
“I'll give you an interesting stat: my nutritionist and I did an evaluation of how much the top lightweights were bouncing back in weight the day of the fight,†Lopes said. “My decision to move up to 155 was not just, ‘I'm moving up. That's it.' No. So from the champion to the top five, they bounce up around 180 to 172 pounds. That's normally what they're bouncing to. I've been adapting my weight for 155 for some time now.
“In my last fight, and this you'll find interesting: for my last fight, on fight day, I weighed in at 175. So if you think about it, I'm already about average. Obviously, that was in the morning, and I was swollen, and after going to the bathroom and training, I was at 170, 171. So it wasn't too bad, and keep in mind I made a camp for 145 pounds. Now, imagine at 155, I think I'll be good.â€
“We'll see what happens,†Lopes said. “I want to see how my body responds at 155. I want to see how I adapt at 155. This is the first time I'm doing a camp for 155. I'm heavier, and I'm just doing more. I've never lifted weights in my life, and now I'm lifting weights twice a week. I'm also taking supplements; I'm taking creatine, and I'm heavier. So let's see how my body responds. I think Charles is the perfect test to see if I belong at 155.â€
Quotes via MMA Junkie
Do you expect Lopes to do well at 155 pounds? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
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