The Inner Circle 36: Numsurin meets Hamidi in atomweight Muay Thai main event

Numsurin Chor Ketwina does not want this one in the judges' hands. Facing Akram Hamidi in the 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. A decision loss to Pet Suanluangrodyok followed, then a unanimous decision over Songchainoi Kiatsongrit in June ended the slide. He wants a winning streak that leads back to Nadaka and has spoken of two more fights first. Gong Kakutogi writes that a win would make Hamidi a leading candidate for Nadaka's next defense; Nadaka last retained his belt against Rifdean Masdor on Oct. 17.

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 in July. He is dropping to atomweight for the first time, after fighting at 57 kilograms, and calls it his real weight class. His ONE record includes a first-round knockout loss to Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and a kickboxing decision loss to Prajanchai. Numsurin concedes his reach and volume but sees flaws in the clinch and the gas tank; Hamidi says he will find Numsurin's weaknesses in the ring.

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. Rassafi is chasing his first promotional win after a majority decision loss to Mongkoldetlek Por Pim-on, decided by a late knockdown. Tomyamkoong calls Rassafi's 12-centimeter height edge and his hands the danger but sees a loose guard to exploit.

Xavier Gonzalez, coming off a split-decision loss to Thway Lin Htet, wants a faster start against debutant Exza, who arrives with a 60-15 record from the Thai circuit. Ranma, after a knockout loss at ONE SAMURAI 2, opens the card against Evan Gambuto.

Watch whether Numsurin's early push pays off, or whether Hamidi's volume forces the decision Numsurin fears.