“That’s how I’d like to end all my fights” - Johan Estupinan says his ONE debut was his benchmark for KO finishes

Johan Estupinan has never been one to settle for mediocrity.

Every time ‘Panda Kick’ suits up for action, he brings nothing less than his best — a mindset he intends to uphold when he faces fellow rising star Johan Ghazali in a flyweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE 170 scheduled for Jan. 24 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

There’s no denying that "Panda Kick" has been one of the breakout sensations of 2024, delivering electrifying performances with each outing.

However, it was his promotional debut against Kouta Omori in a 141-pound catchweight Muay Thai contest last May that truly put him on the map.

In that bout, the Colombian phenom wasted no time making a statement, launching into Omori with a flying kick–Superman punch combo before dazzling with his signature flashy kicks and solid punches.

Omori did his best to fire back, but as Estupinan turned up the heat, the gap in speed and power became glaringly evident.

A right straight followed by a left cross sent Omori reeling, momentarily lowering his guard — just enough for Estupinan to capitalize.

Seizing the opening, Estupinan unleashed a devastating roundhouse kick to the jaw, leaving Omori out on his feet before sealing the deal with a venomous left hand at the 27-second mark of the opening round.

For Estupinan, that emphatic finish set the standard for how he intends to dismantle his opponents moving forward:

He said this in an interview with ONE Championship:

“My favorite fight was my debut because of the way it ended. That’s how I’d like to end all my fights.”

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Johan Estupinan eyes to keep his momentum going

Riding the momentum, Johan Estupinan turned 2024 into a banner year, following up his stunning debut with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Zafer Sayik.

He then kept his winning streak alive with a sensational second-round TKO of Sean Climaco in September before capping off the year with another stoppage, this time against Zakaria El Jamari.

Estupinan has emerged as a legitimate threat in the flyweight Muay Thai ranks, and a victory over Johan Ghazali at ONE 170 could edge him closer to breaking into the division’s elite.