Kicking off a loaded ONE 167 card inside the sold-out Impact Arena in Bangkok was a bantamweight Muay Thai clash between undefeated Colombian striker Johan Estupinan and Turkish standout Zafer Sayik.
Estupinan stepped into the Circle seeking his 24th-career victory while Sayid sought his first victory under the ONE Championship banner and eighth overall.
Round 1: Estupinan comes out looking to put pressure on Sayik early, going for a big head kick before attacking the lead leg of his opponent. Estupinan clinches up and lands since nice blows in close before being separated. Pressed against the cage wall, Sayik attempts to fire back but ends up eating a nasty left hand that puts him down.
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Sayik answers the count and Estupinan puts him down for a second time with little more than a minute left in the first. Sayik is just driving to survive. Estupinan catches Sayik coming in, knocking him off balance, but it's not ruled a knockdown. With the clock ticking down, Estupinan looks to drop his man for the third time but fails to land the finishing blow before the bell sounds.
Round 2: Estupinan once again comes out pressuring Sayik. Estupinan catches a body kick from Sayik and dumps him, but not before landing a solid blow of his own to the body. Estupinan lands a big left hand against the cage, snapping Sayik's head back. Estupinan fires a combination before landing a nice knee up the middle.
Sayik once again finds himself trapped against the fence and eats another big let, followed by a right before circling away from the danger. Sayik goes high with a head kick, but there's not much on it. Estupinan ends the second landing two straight lefts that connect clean and further test the chin of the Turk.
Round 3: Estupinan kicks off the final round with a stiff leg kick. Sayik fires back with a body kick. that prompts Estupinan to pick up the pace, pressuring Sayik against the fence once again and blasting him with a left. Estupinan lands a brutal uppercut in the center of the Circle after Sayik circles away from the fence.
Sayik appears to have no answer as Estupinan lands at will, ripping to the body and sending Sayik retreating. Estupinan continues to target the body with less than a minute to go, landing a vicious kick to Sayik's torso. Knowing he needs something major, Sayik pushes forward but is no match for the speed and skill of Estupinan.
The final round ends with Estupinan getting the better of a final striking exchange between the two.
ONE 167 - Johan Estupinan vs. Zafer Sayik official result
After nine rounds of one-side action, it was clear that Johan Estupinan would leave The Land of Smiles with another big win on his resume and his 'O' intact. With the loss, Sayik falls to 0-2 under the ONE banner and 7-3 overall.
Johan Estupinan defeated Zafer Sayik via unanimous decision (Muay Thai - bantamweight)