ONE Fight Night 32: Jaosuayai Reveals How Tony Jaa’s ‘Ong-Bak’ Sparked His Muay Thai Journey

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At just 23 years old, Thailand's Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi is quickly carving out a name for himself in the world of Muay Thai.

On June 7, the rising flyweight will take center stage in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 32, where he's set to face off against Nakrob Fairtex at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

Victory in this bout could be a game-changer for Jaosuayai. If he manages to topple Nakrob, currently ranked fourth in the flyweight Muay Thai division, he may find himself breaking into the division's elite.

Jaosuayai's journey into Muay Thai wasn't born from family tradition. In fact, none of his relatives were involved in the sport. Instead, his passion was ignited at a young age by a film that left a lasting impression.

"I would sit and watch the matches with [my father], and that's how I gradually became interested. Then I saw the movie 'Ong-Bak.' I really liked Tony Jaa's action and wanted to be like him," Jaosuayai recalled.

That spark turned into action when a senior member at a local gym invited him to train. Within a week, he was offered his first fight - at just seven years old - at a community fair.

"One day, a senior member of the gym asked if I wanted to try. I said yes and trained there for about a week. Then they told me there would be a Muay Thai competition at the annual fair. That was my first fight ever, and I was 7 years old at the time," he said.

Though now a respected athlete with a 7-2 record in ONE Championship, Jaosuayai's debut in the ring was anything but triumphant. He suffered a knockout loss, experienced pain he hadn't anticipated, and did so in front of his supportive parents. But instead of turning away from the sport, he found unexpected motivation - in the form of prize money.

"My parents came to cheer me on at my first fight, but I lost by knockout. My first fight experience was scary because I didn't expect it to hurt so much," he admitted.

"The turning point that really got me hooked on Muay Thai was getting the money from that fight and having a great time with my friends. That's when I decided to focus on this path. I've been a Muay Thai fighter for 16 years now."

Now, with nearly two decades of experience behind him, Jaosuayai is preparing for one of the most important fights of his career. A win at Lumpinee Stadium would not only elevate his profile but could also catapult him into the top five of the flyweight division - a major leap toward stardom in ONE Championship.