Seven-time Muay Thai World Champion “The Angel Warrior” Panpayak Jitmuangnon returns to action on December 12 at ONE Friday Fights 136, but not in the discipline that made him famous. After experiencing an inconsistent stretch since returning from a two-year layoff in October 2024, the Thai dynamo requested a switch to kickboxing in hopes of rebuilding his shattered confidence and recapturing the dominance that once defined his career. Facing Chinese knockout artist Zhao Chongyang in a flyweight kickboxing main event at Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium, Panpayak looks to deliver the statement performance that reminds everyone why he’s considered one of the most decorated strikers of his generation.

Panpayak Struggles To Find Footing After Return

Panpayak Jitmuangnon once dominated the competition with ease, collecting seven Muay Thai World Titles and establishing himself as one of Thailand’s most decorated fighters. However, after sitting on the sidelines for two years, he returned to action in October 2024 and quickly realized the landscape had changed dramatically in ONE Championship’s flyweight Muay Thai division. The competition had evolved, becoming faster, more explosive, and filled with hungry young fighters who didn’t carry the reverence for legends that previous generations might have shown.

The 29-year-old Thai striker has struggled to string together meaningful momentum since his comeback, alternating between impressive victories and crushing defeats. In his most recent appearance, Panpayak suffered a brutal knockout in just two minutes and seven seconds against undefeated Russian finisher Asadula Imangazaliev this past August. The finish came suddenly and unexpectedly — a head kick that caught “The Angel Warrior” completely by surprise and sent him crashing to the canvas in shocking fashion.

Despite the unfortunate nature of the loss, Panpayak harbors no regrets about his performance or approach. He felt everything was going according to plan until that single unexpected moment changed everything.

“I don’t feel regretful about the result of the last fight at all because I executed my game plan perfectly. I controlled the pace and was able to counter his attacks throughout. I just made an unexpected mistake and got caught with a head kick,” Panpayak said. “When I studied his clips before the fight, I hadn’t even seen him use that technique before. If it wasn’t for that strike, I am confident I would have been ahead in the first round.”

Strategic Switch: Building Confidence Through Kickboxing Return

Panpayak recognized that his confidence had taken a significant hit following the mixed results of his four Muay Thai fights since returning in late 2024. Rather than continuing to battle through adversity in his primary discipline, the veteran striker made a strategic decision to switch things up and rebuild his mental fortitude in a different environment. He approached ONE Championship with a specific request — allow him to compete in kickboxing, where he could rediscover his winning form before potentially returning to Muay Thai competition.

The move represents more than just a tactical adjustment. It’s a psychological reset for a fighter who once dominated with supreme confidence and now finds himself questioning his place among the division’s elite. Panpayak hasn’t competed in kickboxing since tearing through former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title challenger Daniel Puertas in November 2021, winning that bout via unanimous decision. This upcoming clash with Zhao will mark his third kickboxing match under the ONE Championship banner, and notably, he remains undefeated in that sport within the promotion.

“I was the one who informed ONE that I wanted to switch to kickboxing first to regain my confidence because my performance in the last four Muay Thai fights hasn’t been as good as expected,” Panpayak confessed. “I am very grateful to the promotion for still believing in me and giving me this opportunity to prove myself in this rule set again. I promise to deliver the best performance possible so as not to disappoint anyone.”

Exploiting Weaknesses: Panpayak’s Game Plan For Zhao

Zhao Chongyang brings a formidable 42–18 record into this main event opportunity, most recently announcing his arrival at ONE Friday Fights 124 with a spectacular knockout in his promotional debut in September 2025. The 28-year-old Chinese striker from X-Level Fighting Club delivered a crisp head kick that put Arman Moradi on the canvas, demonstrating the finishing power that makes him dangerous against anyone.

Panpayak has studied his opponent extensively and identified specific weaknesses he plans to exploit. The Thai legend recognizes Zhao as an aggressive fighter who brings dangerous punch combinations and decent stamina, evidenced by his ability to persevere through damage and secure the comeback knockout in his last fight. However, Panpayak believes Zhao lacks the feints and tactical nuance that world-class strikers possess, instead relying primarily on his physical strength and forward pressure. That predictable approach creates opportunities for a technical counter-striker like “The Angel Warrior” to capitalize on.

For this kickboxing contest, the Thai has concentrated his training camp on enhancing his boxing prowess to complement his world-famous kicks and knee strikes. The goal is to present a more well-rounded attack that keeps Zhao guessing and prevents the Chinese fighter from establishing his preferred aggressive rhythm.

“In this fight, fans will see a more well-rounded Panpayak. In addition to kicks, I will incorporate punch combinations, and I’ve also trained my knee counterattacks to deal with my opponent’s aggressive forward pressure,” Panpayak said. “I am quite confident I can secure the win in this fight because my timing and technical ability are superior, and I intend to finish the fight to restore everyone’s confidence in me. I’m also hoping to win the bonus as an early birthday gift for my daughter, who turns two on December 28th.”