"He's tougher than I expected" - Tawanchai says Jo Nattawut earned his respect after back-and-forth war in first meeting

Despite facing some of the best strikers in the world in ONE Championship, Tawanchai PK Saenchai admits it was Jo Nattawut who really pushed him to the limit.

Most opponents are understandably gun-shy when facing the featherweight Muay Thai world champion, considering he's been known to break his challengers with one precise kill shot.

'Smokin' Jo, however, left all fear aside once he entered the ring and took the fight straight into Tawanchai.

Although the 34-year-old veteran would still fall short against his younger Thai adversary via unanimous decision, he certainly earned the adulation of many at ONE Fight Night 15 last year.

Even Tawanchai was among those who gave Nattawut his flowers, for giving him a proper scrap.

The PK Saenchai superstar told Sportskeeda MMA in an exclusive interview:

"I'm not surprised, but I can feel his strength is the real thing. He's tougher than I expected. He even fought me on short notice."

Nattawut's performance was made even more impressive by the fact that he was simply an injury replacement for Superbon.

That element of surprise, however, goes out the window in their highly-anticipated rematch at ONE 167 on June 7, live on US Primetime.

This time, both 'Smokin' Jo and Tawanchai will have full training camps and trade blows under Muay Thai rules at Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

ONE 167 is free for Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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Tawanchai believes the four-ounce gloves will play a huge factor in do-over

Apart from dealing with a different opponent on short notice, Tawanchai was also somehow limited by fighting under kickboxing rules.

Now, the 25-year-old KO machine can fully utilize his lethal clinch and elbow game since he'll battle 'Smokin' Jo in 'The Art of Eight Limbs'.

In the same interview, Tawanchai admitted that it was harder to put Nattawut away in their earlier encounter:

"I'm not disappointed [that I didn't finish Jo Nattawut] because I know that, unlike Muay Thai, it's harder to knock opponents out in kickboxing."