For elite combat sports athletes, a return to the ring is rarely just about stepping back under the bright lights; it is a calculated step toward reclaiming lost glory, silencing doubts, and thrusting oneself back into the fierce conversations surrounding world championships. This Friday, October 16, ONE Championship returns to the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, with an action-packed event featuring high-stakes clashes. The Inner Circle 35 delivers a compelling five-bout card headlined by a pivotal kickboxing battle, a high-voltage flyweight rematch, and a showcase of some of the brightest teenage martial arts talents in the world today.
At the top of the card, reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai makes his anticipated return to kickboxing. However, the Thai superstar enters the main event not as a titleholder in this discipline, but as a contender looking to rebuild his momentum. Prajanchai’s journey back to the kickboxing circle has been paved with physical adversity. Following his hard-fought rematch against Jonathan Di Bella in October 2025—where Di Bella successfully reclaimed the strawweight kickboxing belt—Prajanchai was forced to undergo surgery and take a prolonged period away from active competition to recover from a series of lingering injuries.
Now fully healed, the former two-sport champion has a clear objective in mind: to work his way back toward a trilogy bout with Di Bella. Standing across the ring from him, however, is a formidable adversary carrying plenty of unfinished business of his own. Wang Junguang, widely known as the "Golden Boy," is eager to make a massive statement in his long-awaited return to the global stage.
Wang’s history with ONE Championship dates back to December 2019, when he challenged the legendary Sam-A Gaiyanghadao for the inaugural strawweight kickboxing world championship in a memorable war. Following a subsequent hard-fought loss to Aslanbek Zikreev in November 2020, the Chinese striker continued to test his skills competing across prominent circuits in Japan and China. Now, nearly six years after his last appearance inside a ONE Championship ring, Wang is handed a golden opportunity to reestablish himself instantly by defeating one of the most accomplished and decorated strikers in the entire organization.
The tactical matchup between Prajanchai and Wang promises to be an absolute thriller. Prajanchai’s exceptional timing, elite-level fight IQ, and vast technical depth make him an extraordinarily difficult assignment for any opponent on the roster. For Wang, the key to victory will lie in his ability to disrupt the Thai star’s rhythm and impose his relentless pressure before Prajanchai can settle comfortably into his trademark operating speed. While neither man has been explicitly guaranteed an immediate title shot with a victory, a dominant and convincing performance will undoubtedly give the winner an undeniable case to challenge for the gold next.
Co-Main Event Rematch Set to Settle Old Scores
The co-main event of the evening offers another layer of high drama, providing hard-hitting Malaysian-American phenom Johan Ghazali an immediate opportunity to settle an old score. Ghazali will run it back with Diego Paez in a high-stakes flyweight Muay Thai rematch that promises fireworks from the opening bell.
The history between the two competitors stems from their initial encounter at ONE Fight Night 32 in June 2025, where Paez earned a hard-fought split decision victory after three grueling rounds. Both fighters enter this upcoming rematch knowing they desperately need a win to recapture their upward trajectory in the division.
For Ghazali, the first defeat against Paez marked a temporary speed bump in what has been a meteoric rise. The 19-year-old sensation initially bounced back from that setback by securing two consecutive victories, but subsequent losses to veteran standout Shimon Yoshinari and Ramadan Ondash briefly halted his momentum. Now, the young star has a golden chance to snap his recent skid while simultaneously avenging the only blemish on his recent record against a familiar rival.
On the other side of the ring, Paez is also looking to rebound from a split-decision setback. The Colombian-American fighter dropped a closely contested decision to Black Panther in April, a bout that had originally been slated for February before being postponed. Securing a second consecutive victory over Ghazali would not only put Paez firmly back in the win column but would also permanently reinforce the validity of the result from their first encounter.
Their first meeting went the full three competitive rounds, showcasing the durability and skill of both men. For this rematch to go his way, Ghazali will need to transform his signature high-pressure offense into a much clearer and decisive advantage over the course of the bout. Meanwhile, Paez has already proven through rigorous experience that he possesses the technical composure and durability required to handle the youngster’s aggressive onslaught over a full-distance battle.
Rising Teenage Prospects Collide in Atomweight Action
Beyond the headline fights, The Inner Circle 35 also highlights the incredible depth of young talent rising through the ranks of ONE Championship. In a fascinating women’s atomweight Muay Thai bout, teenage prospects Olivia Bahsous and Malia Weaver are set to bring an ongoing social media rivalry directly into the professional ring.
Both fighters are only 16 years old, yet their impressive early professional success ensures that this matchup carries significant competitive substance far beyond any online exchanges. Canada’s Bahsous has burst onto the global scene with a stellar start to her promotional career, winning her first two appearances under the ONE banner by technical knockout.
She will be met by Weaver, an American rising star who brings an impressive amateur résumé—including a 2024 TBA Classic championship—into her professional career, boasting an unblemished 3-0 professional record. While Bahsous is hunting for a third consecutive promotional finish to cement her status as a primary threat in the division, Weaver has a massive opportunity to halt her opponent’s momentum and instantly capture the spotlight for her own burgeoning career.
Rounding out the action-packed card are two explosive preliminary contests under Muay Thai rules. Jaradchai Maxjandee is scheduled to lock horns with Ayoub Yassine, while Face Erawan prepares to test his skills against Valerii Strungari. Both matchups feature hungry athletes looking to make a lasting impression on the global audience.
The Inner Circle 35 will stream live and exclusively for subscribers at live.onefc.com on Friday, October 16. The action kicks off early in the morning for international viewers at 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT, or a prime evening slot of 6:30 p.m. local time in Bangkok. The main event spectacle will be followed immediately by the separate broadcast of ONE Friday Fights 175, ensuring a full day of world-class martial arts entertainment for combat sports fans around the world.
Fight Card
Kickboxing: Prajanchai Pongsuphan PK vs. Wang Junguang
Muay Thai: Johan Ghazali vs. Diego Paez
Muay Thai: Jaradchai Maxjandee vs. Ayoub Yassine
Muay Thai: Olivia Bahsous vs. Malia Weaver
Muay Thai: Face Erawan vs. Valerii Strungari
