MMA
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao credits wife for saving his comeback: 'She gave me so much encouragement'
Published
1 month agoon
Two years ago, online critics wrote off Sam-A Gaiyanghadao. Now the Thai legend is one win from World Title gold.
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao challenges Aliff Sor Dechapan for the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title in the main event of The Inner Circle 23 on Friday, July 24, streaming live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
At 42, the former two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion insists age has sharpened rather than dulled his fighting style. More than three decades and 400 professional bouts into his career, he says the calmer version of himself only found this level of aggression recently.
“I think my fighting style has changed in my forties. I have become more aggressive and stronger,†he said.
“It feels as though I am no longer afraid of my opponent's strikes. If I get hit, I get hit. If we have to trade, then we trade. That is simply how I fight now.â€
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao found calm amid criticism
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao has weathered two years of online criticism about his age. Commenters have suggested his best days are behind him and predicted younger opponents would knock him out, with the noise intensifying after a knockout loss to reigning champion Prajanchai PongSuphan PK left him questioning his future.
His wife, Tangmo, urged him to rest and trust his body, giving him the space to recover before committing to another title run.
“After that loss, a small thought crossed my mind. Maybe my body just couldn't take it anymore. I talked to my wife about it, but she gave me so much encouragement.â€
Since returning, Sam-A has answered every doubter with wins over Zhang Peimian, Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi, and Elmehdi El Jamari.
“By now, I have proven that age does not affect my ability to fight. Fight after fight, I have shown everyone that I can still compete in ONE Championship, continue moving forward, and challenge for a World Title.â€
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MMA
Vitor Petrino fires back at Valter Walker: ‘That guy is a clown’
Published
39 minutes agoon
September 1, 2026
Petrino isn't letting Valter
Walker’s latest jab go unanswered.
Petrino (15-2) extended his win streak to four with a unanimous
decision over Serghei
Spivac on Aug. 22 to further ascend the heavyweight rankings.
Walker (16-1), who's also among the top-ranked heavyweights in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship, took a shot at Petrino on
social media by posting a photo from his recent fight, labeling it
boring.
Petrino has now fired back.
Vitor Petrino says he has repeatedly asked the UFC to book
Valter Walker
In a recent interview with Sherdog’s Marcelo Alonso, Petrino
responded to Walker's comments about his fight with Spivac,
claiming that he's campaigned for a matchup against the grappling
specialist many times, to no avail.
“That guy is a clown. Nobody respects him. I don't even want to
talk about him much,†Petrino said. “I've asked for that fight
several times and I don't know why the UFC hasn't made it
happen.â€
Petrino’s interest in the matchup isn't new. His coach, Cristiano
Marcello,
previously told Sherdog that Petrino had accepted a challenge
from Walker.
“Unlike him, who has already said he's not interested in fighting
the top guys, I like challenging myself,†Petrino said, taking
another shot at his countryman. “I'll fight anyone in the Top 10. I
love to challenge myself.â€
Walker is on a five-fight win streak, with all five wins coming via
leg-based submissions, including four heel hooks.
MMA
Usman Nurmagomedovs former rival returns for PFL Chicago
Published
2 hours agoon
September 1, 2026
MMA
Kai Asakura finds new life in UFC following rocky flyweight start
Published
3 hours agoon
September 1, 2026
Asakura is reinvigorated at bantamweight following a rocky
start in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Asakura stopped Qileng Aori
with a second-round technical knockout at
UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29. The Japanese star is now 2-0 in the
UFC bantamweight division after losing his first two UFC fights via
submission at flyweight. He detailed how his approach has changed
since the move up and broke down his finishing move against Aori
soon after the victory.
Kai Asakura says bantamweight gives him more power, speed and
confidence
Asakura claims that he can be more assertive with his offense at
135 pounds, a significant improvement on how he felt while
competing at 125 pounds.
“At bantamweight, I have more power and I have more speed,†Asakura
said in a post-fight interview. “So, I feel like I can fight with
more confidence than at flyweight.â€
He also broke down the sequence that led to the finish.
“There were two things,†Asakura added. “The opponent was backing
away and he was trying to counter with the right, so I made the
distance a little bit closer and he was also focusing on the body
shots, so I put a head kick in there.â€
With two straight victories at bantamweight, Asakura now hopes to
face a ranked 135-pounder next.
“I want to fight in Top 15, anyone.â€
“I want to fight in top 15, anyone.”
After back-to-back finishes at bantamweight, Kai Asakura
(@kai_1031_) has
his sights set on a ranked matchup next time out
#UFCShanghaiMain Card Results âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/G8E8FUHmUD pic.twitter.com/3YQb84t02n
— UFC News (@UFCNews)
August 29, 2026
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