Now he faces undefeated Russian destroyer Asadula Imangazaliev A Fighting Night 39 co-main event on Friday, January 23 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. The event will be broadcast live in US primetime on Amazon Prime Video.
Kongthoranee has a career record of 72-18 and two Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Championships on his resume. But recent defeats to Nong-O Hama and Aslamjon Ortikov have left critics questioning whether younger fighters represent the future of the division. The loss to Ortikov was especially painful after he was dropped in the second round. That knockdown secured the Uzbek’s unanimous victory and pushed Kongthoranee’s promotional record to 11-4.
The 28-year-old Thai striker refuses to accept the story that his best days are behind him. He uses the pain of consecutive defeats as fuel instead of letting it break him.
“The loss of Aslamjon left me disappointed and full of regret because we could not secure the victory,” he said. “But it’s okay, I’m ready to get back up and fight again.”
Kongthoranee Sor Sommai faces a dangerous, undefeated challenger
Kongthoranee Sor Sommai knows exactly what is at stake. Opposite him is a 22-year-old phenom who represents everything he’s fighting against: a veteran who built the next generation.
Imangazaliev brings a perfect 10-0 record in his US primetime debut. Additionally, the Team representative Mehdi Zatout has recorded five knockout victories in ONE Championship, establishing himself as an unpredictable finisher. His arsenal includes flashy spinning attacks, devastating punches and explosive kicks that can end fights anywhere.
The Russian’s latest performance sent shockwaves through the division. He connected with a clinical head kick that flattened legendary Thai striker Panpayak Jitmuangnon in August 2025. That finish earned him a six-figure contract and set him up for a jump in the rankings.
The pressure weighs heavily on Kongthoranee. But he channels that weight into motivation instead of letting it crush him. For a fighter who has won more times than he has lost in his career, back-to-back defeats represent uncharted territory that required significant changes.
“After two consecutive defeats, I definitely feel the pressure,” he said. “I’ve never lost in a row before. Now that I’ve lost two in a row, I never want to feel like that again. It’s become the motivation that pushes me to train harder and push myself further.”
“I refuse to be a stepping stone for him. I’m giving this everything I’ve got. I don’t know who will win or lose, but I’m going to fight 100 percent. I’m determined to redeem myself. I don’t want a third loss. You’re going to see a ‘new version’ of Kongthoranee.”
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