Yodkatanyu outlasts Liu Junchao via split decision in ONE Friday Fights 172 co-main

Yodkatanyu Jitmuangnon, the former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion, beat Chinese star Liu Junchao by split decision in the flyweight kickboxing co-main event of ONE Friday Fights 172, streamed Friday, September 25, from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium in Asia primetime.

The win opened the Thai’s ONE Championship account and pushed his career record to 51-15.

Yodkatanyu looked comfortable early in his kickboxing transition, finding rhythm with precise low kicks from the outside and a sharp cross that kept interrupting Liu’s forward rush. Liu pressed anyway and landed a highlight-reel Superman punch — the best shot of the opening round.

In the second, the Jitmuangnon Gym product ramped up his footwork, weaving through Liu’s ranged combinations and stepping back from the pocket to counter with hooks and hard body kicks. He circled away from the power shots, landing clean and staying mostly out of danger.

Liu came out of the final round hunting the knockout, hiding heavy overhand rights behind a left jab. Both men slowed as the exchanges piled up, but Yodkatanyu timed the wide throws with pinpoint counters. In the closing moments they swung freely and kept the crowd on edge. Precision and accumulated volume tipped the split decision his way.

ONE Friday Fights 172 results (per ONEFC.com)

• Yodkatanyu Jitmuangnon def. Liu Junchao via split decision (kickboxing – flyweight)
• Teeyai Torfunfarm def. Mungkorn Sor Sombatfarm via knockout, Round 1, 2:29 (Muay Thai – strawweight)
• Nuapayak Jitmuangnon def. Suajan Sor Isarachot via knockout, Round 1, 2:07 (Muay Thai – flyweight)
• Basir Saraliev def. Sarmad Jahanara via unanimous decision (MMA – lightweight)
• Ma Zhenzhao def. Samransing Sitchalongsak via knockout, Round 1, 2:52 (Muay Thai – strawweight)
• Khurshed Gafurov def. Leevi Heino via unanimous decision (MMA – featherweight)
• Yuya Shibata def. Bevan Ali Oguz via knockout (punches), Round 1, 1:52 (kickboxing – featherweight)
• Yutaro Hori def. Duangbuppha O Sansuk via TKO, Round 3, 0:34 (kickboxing – bantamweight)
• Tangtang Sor Dechapan def. Trieu Thi Phuong Thuy via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – atomweight)

Full recap on ONEFC.com.