The Muay Thai fighter who has previously contended under names like Nong-O Sit Or is none other than Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, the multiple Lumpinee Stadium Championship title winner, considered one of the finest modern boxers to come out of Thailand. He is, at the time of writing, the undefeated ONE Championship Bantamweight Muay Thai World title holder, who has successfully defended his belt an astonishing six times.
With an impressive career that has seen Nong-O pick up multiple Fighter of the Year awards over the years and 264 wins out of 328 fights, you may be wondering where he came from and what his journey to success has been like. Read on to learn about Nong-O’s rags-to-riches story, how discovering Muay Thai made him a martial arts superstar in Thailand, and how it allowed his family to rise out of poverty.
Growing Up In Poverty
The Muay Thai fighter and champion we know today as Nong-O was born in 1986 as Apichet Kotanon to a family of orchard farmers living in a small village. The village was located in the Sakon Nakhon Province, which is to be found in the Isan (Northeastern) region of Thailand. Young Apichet had two older sisters, and he describes his childhood as happy, although they were living in poverty. Their financial situation was dire, and his parents eventually had to take construction jobs in Bangkok at the end of the farming season to be able to feed their family and send the kids to school.
Apichet missed his parents when they went away to the big city, and during the months when they were short of cash, the children who lived with their grandmother survived mostly on vegetables and eggs. Looking back at this period of his time, the grown-up Apichet, now going by his fighter name Nong-O admits that while it was tough, the hardships he experienced while growing up in the countryside of Sakon Nakhon allowed him to become independent, and he only needed to find an outlet to provide for his family.
Finding Muay Thai
Nong-O would discover a way to provide for his family when he was about nine years old. The youngster saw his neighbor training to go for the big professional-level fights in Bangkok. The Nak Muay (Muay Thai practitioner) noticed the young boy observing him and asked whether he would like to hit the heavy bag. Nong-O started his training and was quick to pick it up, although he kept it secret from his parents for the time being.
After about a month of training in martial arts, Nong-O fought for the first time and won, getting 100 baht as his prize money. He returned again the next night and won again. Nong-O gave all his prize money to his grandmother. He would win 10 matches before his parents finally found out he was fighting. They were not happy at first and refused to watch their only son fight in martial arts. Nong-O kept competing anyway, mostly at local events like temple fairs, and eventually, his parents relented and started supporting his decision.
When he first started, Nong-O did find it difficult to balance martial arts training and schoolwork. Fortunately for him, his classmates covered for him if he fell asleep at school. Even the teachers understood the important role Muay Thai played in lifting youngsters out of poverty in Thailand, and supported Nong-O’s career as he was a very talented fighter. He received a special pass that allowed him to attend classes late if he was in training.
Moving To Bangkok
When Nong-O was 14, he moved to Bangkok to begin training at a Muay Thai training camp. While there were other kids from rural parts of Thailand, there wasn’t much time to make friends since they were fully occupied with training or schoolwork. Life in Thailand’s capital was very foreign to the young fighter from the countryside, who constantly missed his family. However, in terms of Muay Thai, many new opportunities will soon open up for the rising star.
His first time competing in a big stadium fight was at the age of 15. The match took place at Rajadamnern, one of the most prestigious Muay Thai stadiums in Thailand. The promoter for the event was Onesongchai Promotion Thai Boxing, one of the biggest in the country. While Nong-O wasn’t headlining yet, he describes his inclusion in this event alongside other Muay Thai stars as being very surreal. He fought Sipaenoi S. Sisompong and won by decision.
Winning Championships At Lumpinee And Rajadamnern
Nong-O’s Muay Thai career kicked into high gear when he received his first Fighter of the Year Award in 2005 from Lumpinee Stadium, the Sports Writers Association of Thailand, and the Sports Authority of Thailand. Winning all three awards in the same year meant that he would become a household name and bring honor to his family while lifting them out of poverty. He would also win the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PAT) Bantamweight title in 2005.
Nong-O would win his first Lumpinee Stadium championship title the next year while representing the Sit Or Gym. This was a prestigious achievement for any young Muay Thai fighter. In the first phase of his career which lasted to about 2015, he would go on to win three more Lumpinee titles in separate divisions, the Rajadamnern Stadium Lightweight championship, the Toyota Vigo Marathon Tournament title, and another PAT Lightweight title.
All of these championship title wins were on top of two more Fighter of the Year awards he received. During this time, he fought under various names like Nong-O Sit. Or, Nong-O Gaiyanghadaogym and Nong-O Sit. Or, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao.
Hiatus, Fatherhood, And Coaching At Evolve
In 2015, Nong-O took a break from competing and was invited to coach at the Evolve Gym in Singapore. He states that teaching other students of Muay Thai in his own style was a rewarding experience, and he was very impressed with all the modern equipment in Singapore that he rarely found in Thailand. He was also surrounded by world-class fighters and trainers who helped him settle down and even learned a few techniques from them.
One of the main reasons he took the job was that it provided some financial stability in his life, especially since he was now married and a father of two. Working as a trainer at Evolve Gym allowed Nong-O to support their studies and make sure they didn’t have to go through the same hardships he faced back in his village. Nong-O also remains supportive if the two boys decide to follow in his footsteps. He has already started teaching them basic Muay Thai techniques and gotten them equipment like a punching bag to train at home with him.
Return to Muay Thai and Success With ONE Championship
While he did enjoy teaching Muay Thai, the desire to fight was still strong in Nong-O. During his hiatus, the Singaporean combat sports promoter ONE Championship began the ONE Super Series to feature the best Muay Thai and kickboxing stars. When he returned to the ring in 2018 at the ONE Championship: Heroes of Honor event held in the Philippines, he beat Fabio Pinca, the Italian-French martial arts star, by unanimous decision. In the next fight, held in front of a Bangkok home crowd, he defeated the French-Algerian kickboxer Mehdi Zatout.
The Undefeated ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion
In 2019, at the ONE Championship: Clash of Legends event, Nong-O defeated the Chinese Muay Thai fighter Han Zihao, becoming the first ever ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion. He’s currently on an impressive winning streak with ONE Championship and has won over millions of martial arts fans around the world, in addition to his loyal audience back home.
What’s perhaps even more impressive is that Nong-O has managed to hold on to his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World title, successfully defending it six times against some great fighters like Thailand’s own Rodlek P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym, Japan’s Shoot Boxing world champion Hiroaki Suzuki and English Muay Thai world champion Liam Harrison.
Nong-O’s Fighting Style: Muay Femur
Nong-O is a veteran fighter with over 260 wins in his professional Muay Thai career. Early in his fighting days, he became known for his sweeping techniques. He would often study his opponent before he ever got into a ring with them and would sweep them whenever they countered. He used punches and kicks to set up a sweeping maneuver.
Nong-O’s right-hand punches, body kicks, and especially his lead roundhouse kicks, are his most effective striking tools. As an instructor at Evolve, he now teaches his students not to rely on any one technique, but to be familiar with all the fighting styles and flexible enough to switch to the most effective one the situation calls for.
Nong-O himself has displayed incredibly high levels of fight IQ, which have helped him to read his opponents for any sign of weakness, and adapt to secure his win. This makes him one of the best Muay Femur fighters in the combat sport today. To learn more about Muay Thai fighting styles, read A Guide to Five Different Muay Thai Fighting Styles.
Famous Fights Featuring Nong-O
Nong-O has stepped into the ring and faced many of the best Muay Thai fighters of the modern era. Here are some of the most memorable moments of his career.
Singdam Kiatmuukao
Singdam Kiatmuukao, also known as Singdam Kiatmuu9, is a multiple Lumpinee Stadium champion and an opponent that Nong-O has faced 12 times over the years. Singdam defeated Nong-O in their first encounter, leaving the latter severely bruised and even having to undergo traditional treatment in his village to recover from his injuries. The next fight would end in a draw. The third fight at the Yod Muay Champions Cup 60kg was a draw, but Nong-O would lose by a split decision in the extra round.
The next four fights would go the other way, with Nong-O finally defeating his rival. One of these events was a successful defense of his Lumpinee Super featherweight title. He also defeated Singdam for the Lumpinee lightweight championship title in 2013 and won the vacant Rajadamnern lightweight title by defeating him again in 2014 in their last fight together. The score between them is currently six to five in favor of Nong-O with one draw between them.
Rodlek P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym
Rodlek is a Channel 07 Boxing Stadium champion and a World Professional Muaythai Federation champion from Thailand. He is also a rising star in the ONE Championship and fought Nong-O for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship in 2020. While the first two rounds of the fight were pretty fierce, Nong-O was able to pick up on Rodlek’s techniques, saw an opening, and struck with a right cross. Rodlek was knocked out in the third round, and Nong-O retained his title.
Felipe Lobo
Lobo known as the ‘Demolition Man’ is a Muay Thai fighter from Brazil. Nong-O spent the first two rounds striking out with jabs and observing how Lobo reacted. He was able to notice that Lobo was ducking his head to avoid incoming jabs. He entered the third round and started with a few jabs, which predictably got the Brazilian to lower his head. Right on cue, Nong-O delivered a right uppercut that knocked him out. This was another fight where Nong-O was able to defend his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.
Liam ‘The Hitman’ Harrison
One of the most hotly anticipated Muay Thai fights in recent years was supposed to be Nong-O vs. English fighter Liam ‘The Hitman’ Harrison. The ONE Championship match, which took place in Singapore and was live-streamed on Amazon Prime Video, ended unexpectedly in the first round to the disappointment of many fans. Powerful leg kicks delivered by Nong-O sent Harrison to the floor, leaving him injured and unable to continue the fight.
Harrison has since voiced his frustration at the result, wishing he could have continued to fight longer, adding that Nong-O and their fans deserved a good fight. As for Nong-O, he was able to successfully defend his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World title and received a massive $50,000 Performance Bonus for dispatching his opponent so fast. It’s also the fastest knockout he has achieved in ONE Championship events, and a testament to the power of his leg kicks.
Talent Recognizes Talent
Ahead of the headlining Nong-O vs. Harrison fight, Rodtang ‘The Iron Man’ Jitmuangnon, who was also scheduled to fight at the same event, called Nong-O the best striker in ONE Championship. He went on to praise Nong-O’s heavy hitting, accuracy, and determination, calling him a Muay Thai legend.
Nong-O replied to this by stating that if he were to face Rodtang, it would be one of the toughest tasks he would have to undertake. Rodtang Jitmuangnon is currently the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, with his own very impressive record of 268 wins. With both Muay Thai fighters currently on a winning streak, fans are already excited about a potential dream match between the two in the future.
Still The Reigning Champion
Nong-O Gaiyanghadao is still the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion and one of the finest Muay Thai fighters from Thailand to ever enter the ring. He has not only lifted his family out of poverty but has also carried the torch of Muay Thai overseas, like so many of his peers. It is unclear what his next encounter will be, although a rematch with Liam Harrison or going up against Rodtang might give the fans what they want. No matter what the fights are and where they take place, any match with Nong-O will surely be something to get excited about.
FAQs
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