Dmitry Menshikov Striving For World Title Redemption After ONE Fight Night 22 Win

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After a dampening debut one year ago, Dmitry Menshikov has risen from the ashes to become one of the most formidable names in ONE Championship's lightweight Muay Thai category. And he proved that once again in Bangkok, Thailand's Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

The Russian puncher earned his third knockout in a row against former ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title challenger Sinsamut Klinmee this past Saturday, May 4, at ONE Fight Night 22, forcing the division to take notice once more.

Since falling to ONE lightweight Muay Thai king Regian Eersel, Menshikov has been set on returning to the top of the fold. The only way to get back there is to keep on winning. So defeating a legend in Sinsamut was the only way he knew.

"I was doing my job. I didn't think about this much. Of course, I knew that he's a really famous Thai fighter, I knew that people were going to support him, but I didn't care. My job is simple - to fight. And I was doing my job," Menshikov said.

"I believed that I was going to win. I knew I was going to win. Even between the second and third rounds, when I was talking to my trainer, I was telling him I was going to win."

When Menshikov debuted in ONE Championship, his accolades immediately put him in a spot to challenge Eersel. But despite his 11-fight winning streak going into the contest, Menshikov appeared to be overwhelmed.

A year later, though, a lot has changed. Eersel recently parted with his lightweight kickboxing gold. Meanwhile, Menshikov is in the form of his life. And after three knockouts in a row, the 26-year-old believes the time has come to run it back with the Surinamese great.

"About the fight with [Eersel], as I mentioned before, multiple times, I want to be the champion, yeah. And I'm going to do everything to be the champion. And if it's a rematch with him, sure," Menshikov said.

"And also, I want to take the belt - not just in Muay Thai, but kickboxing, too. It's my goals. I have plans for two belts."