Tom yum goong is Thailand’s most famous fiery soup, a dish that leaves a lasting burn. Its namesake, Tomyamkoong Bhumjaithai, has proven just as hard for opponents to stomach.
The 22-year-old puts his four-fight winning streak on the line against Moroccan striker Yassir “Salvador” Rassafi in bantamweight Muay Thai at The Inner Circle 36 on Friday, October 30, live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, exclusively for members at live.onefc.com.
Few fighters on the weekly series carry more heat right now. Tomyamkoong opened his streak with three straight wins, finishing both Watcharaphon Singha Mawynn and Bejenuta “Gladiator” Maximus along the way.
Yet his last outing did not come easily. Hard-hitting Anar “Atilla” Mammadov handed him a genuine scare in a testy opening round at The Inner Circle 18 this past June.
The fighter who dropped his first two ONE outings might have wilted under that pressure. Instead, this version dug deep for a satisfying come-from-behind unanimous decision.
Tomyamkoong told onefc.com:
“I just got caught completely off guard. He landed a body shot before I could even brace my core, so it winded me immediately.
“In rounds two and three, I just marched forward and put the pressure on. I had to get payback. I saw in the second round that he couldn’t handle the clinch, so I walked him down and took the fight inside.”
That kind of resilience marks a complete reversal of fortune. Not long ago, back-to-back knockout losses to Suriyanlek Por Yenying and Rittidet Sor Sommai left him skating on thin ice.
Rather than sink, he absorbed those defeats with humility. Even with 187 bouts under his belt, the PK Saenchai Muaythaigym product still sees himself as a student of the sport.
He said:
“Now that I’m on a four-fight win streak, my confidence is through the roof. I’d attribute it to my training and getting fully comfortable with the 4-ounce gloves. I lost my first two fights in ONE, but now I’ve completely adjusted.
“For this camp, I’ve been repping body shots and leg kicks, but honestly, we prepared everything. I’ve also been sharpening my elbows — my signature weapon. Truly, we came prepared with the complete arsenal.”
That refreshed arsenal now heads into new territory, as Tomyamkoong moves up to bantamweight for the first time in ONE. The division sits closer to his natural frame, and he expects to feel right at home.
Rassafi, too, is chasing something. The Moroccan came agonizingly close in his promotional debut, losing a majority decision to Mongkoldetlek Por Pim-on at The Inner Circle 29 after a late knockdown tipped the scales.
Having once stood in those same shoes, the resurgent fighter refuses to overlook him.
Tomyamkoong said:
“His main strength is his height, which makes him tricky to fight since he’s 12 centimeters taller than me. We’ll have to see on fight night what style he brings and how I’ll adjust.
“I’m confident I can handle the height difference. His hands are his biggest weapon, but I think his main weakness is that he keeps a loose guard, leaving gaps for me to break through and land punches.”
Tomyamkoong Is Ready To Turn Up The Heat
Tomyamkoong Bhumjaithai’s magnificent turnaround has put him within striking distance of a career-changing US$100,000 contract — a prize he has watched many of his Lumpinee peers secure.
Now, he is ready to seize his own.
He said:
“A contract is always on my mind. Winning this fight should put me in a prime position to get it.
“Once I win this fight, I want to face contenders who are also in line for a contract. That way, it builds a solid resume showing I fought the best, and a win over them would practically guarantee me that contract.”
All of that hinges on getting past Yassir Rassafi, who will hold the size advantage on Friday.
Yet the Thai striker has never measured a threat by stature, and he plans to show “Salvador” exactly how much heat he packs.
In playful fashion, he sent Rassafi a reminder:
“This is my third time facing a [foreign] fighter, and I’ve won every single time. If I win again, it just goes to show that tom yum goong is way too spicy for [foreigners] to handle easily!
“I’ve already won two bonuses, so for this fight, my goal is to get another stoppage. Even though he’s a bigger Western fighter, if I can finish him, it’ll be a proper giant-slaying moment.”
