Kulabdam ready for top 5 opponent next after cooling off John Lineker: “A chance to climb up”

After securing the biggest win of his career at ONE Fight Night 27, Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai believes he is ready for a top-five opponent.

Returning to the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Kulabdam went toe-to-toe with one of the heaviest hitters in all of combat sports, John 'Hands of Stone' Lineker. Despite being considered an underdog in the eyes of many, his expertise and experience in the art of eight limbs carried him through, earning him an impressive unanimous decision victory over the former ONE bantamweight MMA world champion.

Speaking with the Bangkok Post following his big win, Kulabdam made it clear that he's ready to start climbing up the contender's ladder but will ultimately leave what's next up to the promotion.

"Personally, maybe not yet," he said. "But if the promotion gives me a chance to climb up, I’d be happy to take it. "

Overall, Kulabdam is 9-5 under the ONE Championship banner and now has 72 career wins to his credit, including back-to-back victories against Suablack Tor Pran49 and Lineker in his last two outings.

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Kulabdam reveals what was going through his head after being knocked down by Lineker

While Kulabdam came out on top against John Lineker, the Thai fan favorite faced his fair share of adversity — particularly in the opening round when 'Hands of Stone' blasted him with a left uppercut against the ropes.

"I don't remember exactly what happened," Kulabdam said after getting knocked down in the first round. "It's just like I got hit, and then I got knocked down. Then I just remembered that there were pictures of my kids floating in my head. Like I saw pictures of my kids, and it was a wake up call, so I had to get up and fight again."

Completing one of the most epic comebacks in recent memory, the two-time Lumpinee Stadium champion looks ready to step up in competition and make a push toward the coveted ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title.

If you missed any of the action, ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch the ONE Fight Night 27 replay on demand via Amazon Prime Video.