Saemapetch Seeking Revenge Against Rabah At ONE Fight Night 19

Following a controversial outcome in their first encounter, Saemapetch Fairtex is out to make things right when he rematches Mohamed Younes Rabah at ONE Fight Night 19: Haggerty vs. Lobo this Saturday, 17 February.

The pair will throw down inside Bangkok, Thailand's Lumpinee Boxing Stadium once again in a pivotal bantamweight Muay Thai showdown. Saemapetch suffered a knockout loss in their initial meeting at ONE Fight Night 17 this past December, but many believe the grounded knee should have been deemed illegal.

The first-round finish hasn't sat well with the Thai striker. In fact, he asked for an immediate rematch with Rabah in the aftermath, and redemption has been on his mind ever since.

"I asked ONE Championship for a rematch with Mohamed. And when they gave me the green light, I started training. I've been training for more than two months. I'm really excited because I want revenge for what he did to me in the last fight. That fight ended too soon," Saemapetch said.

"I was disappointed and upset that I was knocked down and got kneed in the face while I was down. And they still declared him the winner of the match. That's why I want to rematch."

Prior to fighting Rabah late last year, Saemapetch was slated to do battle with #3-ranked contender and one-half of this weekend's main event in Felipe Lobo. That was until "Demolition Man" withdrew from injury.

Had that fight taken place, there's every chance Saemapetch could've punched his ticket to a World Title opportunity against Jonathan Haggerty. However, the disputed loss to Rabah set him back even further from gold. But he promises his Algerian adversary that he won't be so lucky the second time around.

"This rematch is very important to me. I want to prove to the fans that I'm still the same Saemapetch. Because I already know Rabah from the previous fight, I know how I will handle him," Saemapetch said.

"I've prepared many tricks to surprise him in the ring. Mohamed, I'm gonna pay you back on February 16. I won't make the same mistake twice."