ONE 170 preview and predictions: Tawanchai PK Saenchai vs. Superbon

ONE Championship fans were treated to the highest levels of 'The Art of Eight Limbs' the last time Thai megastars Tawanchai PK Saenchai and Superbon shared the circle.

These two generational talents will once again collide in the sequel to their epic first showdown in the curtain closer of ONE 170 in less than 24 hours.

Tawanchai and Superbon figured in a dazzling display of technical brilliance at ONE Friday Fights 46 back in 2023. Both elite warriors had their moments in the back-and-forth duel that went the full five rounds.

It was indeed a match that could have gone either way. In the end, though, Tawanchai escaped by the narrowest of margins and retained his featherweight Muay Thai world title.

After recently being elevated to undisputed featherweight kickboxing world champion, Superbon has sights on two-sport supremacy as he seeks vengeance on Jan. 24 at Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The full event will air live in Asian primetime via watch.onefc.com.

As always, Sportskeeda MMA's ONE Championship panel has dissected arguably one of the biggest rematches in Muay Thai history.

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Mike Murrillo

With the way things ended between these Thai superstars in their first encounter, a rematch surely was needed. Now we are here, and like last time around this is going to be a toss-up and another barnburner.

Both are highly capable of winning either by knockout or going the full route. That is how highly skilled they are.

Going out on a limb here though and say it is Superbon winning by decision.

I pick Superbon because I believe the majority loss he absorbed at the hands of Tawanchai in their first match left a bad taste in the mouth of the featherweight kickboxing king and something he is itching to redeem himself from.

He will enter this match with dogged determination and take the fight no end to the reigning champion. For added motivation, a two-sport world champion has a nice ring to it for Superbon.

But Tawanchai is a champion for a reason, and will not easily fold. He will fight it out till the end but will be edged out by decision.

Prediction: Tawanchai via decision

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James De Rozario

This will come down to the wire, but I envision Superbon getting his hand raised by a majority decision at the end of what will undoubtedly be a war for the ages.

The ONE featherweight kickboxing world champion would have learned his lesson from their first fight and look to add more volume when they’re trading bombs in proximity.

While his elbows landed with precision at ONE Friday Fights 46, Tawanchai’s mix of teeps, kicks, and punches outscored him by a mile.

That said, it’ll be hard to catch the slick divisional king, but if there’s any man who can do it, look no further than Superbon.

The Bangkok-based star has world-class fight IQ at his disposal, and as long as he minimizes traffic that comes his way and strikes decisively, a win is there for the taking.

Tawanchai’s creativity in attack and defense powered him to victory in this first fight. And though I do see him dishing out another flawless display of Muay Thai, Superbon has too much to lose in this one — and that appetite for revenge and dream of realizing two-sport glory — will serve as fuel the closer he gets to the finish line.

Prediction: Superbon via decision

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Vince Richards

This one is probably the most difficult fight to predict, but this writer is certain this one will again go to the judges’ scorecards.

It’s not to say that a knockout is impossible, since both Superbon and Tawanchai possess one-shot killing power. However, the chance of a knockout happening is practically zero.

This will be a technical and brutal showcase of Muay Thai with Tawanchai getting his hand raised for the second time.

I see Tawanchai’s speed being the crucial factor in this showdown against Superbon’s clinical approach.

Tawanchai is a master at dictating distance, as evidenced by what he did in his first world title defense against Superbon in 2023.

This isn’t to say Superbon would be a pushover, but Tawanchai’s improved boxing would also play a major role in his looming world title defense.

Prediction: Tawanchai by decision