The Inner Circle 36: Numsurin faces Hamidi, targets early finish and Nadaka rematch

Numsurin Chor Ketwina does not want this one in the judges' hands. Facing Akram Hamidi in the atomweight Muay Thai main event, he says Hamidi's non-stop volume could let him point-fight his way to a win, so he plans to press from the opening bell and look for a finish.

The stakes reach past Friday. Numsurin took Nadaka Yoshinari the full five rounds for the inaugural atomweight title at ONE 173 in Tokyo last November and lost on the scorecards. A decision loss to Pet Suanluangrodyok followed, then a unanimous decision over Songchainoi Kiatsongrit ended the slide. He wants a winning streak that leads back to Nadaka, and has spoken of two more fights first. Nadaka most recently retained his belt against Rifdean Masdor on Oct. 17. Gong Kakutogi notes that a win over Nadaka's former rival's conqueror would make Hamidi a leading candidate for Nadaka's next defense.

Hamidi is a different kind of test. The 27-year-old Strasbourg-born striker is a three-time ISKA kickboxing world champion and comes off a decision over Watcharaphon Laochokcharoen at ONE Friday Fights 164. He is dropping to atomweight for the first time and hopes a win over a top contender puts him in the title conversation. His ONE record includes a knockout loss to Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and a decision loss to Prajanchai. Numsurin concedes his reach and volume but sees flaws in the clinch and in his conditioning.

Further down the card, 22-year-old Tomyamkoong Bhumjaithai moves up to bantamweight for the first time in ONE against Moroccan Yassir Rassafi. His four straight wins came after losing his first two ONE fights, and the latest, over Anar Mammadov, was a comeback after a rough first round. Rassafi is chasing his first promotional win after a majority decision loss to Mongkoldetlek Por Pim-on, where a late knockdown decided it.

Tomyamkoong says Rassafi's 12-centimeter height edge and his hands are the danger, but that he sees a loose guard to exploit. He is open about the reward: "A contract is always on my mind."

Xavier Gonzalez meets Exza Wankhongohm in the co-main event, and Ranma opens the card against Evan Gambuto. Watch whether Numsurin's early push pays off, or whether Hamidi's volume forces the decision he fears.