Black Belt Team 
After defeating Niclas Larsen at ONE Fight Night 8, Eddie Abasolo is ready to announce himself as a serious title threat in ONE Championship’s loaded featherweight Muay Thai division.
He will get that opportunity against #2-ranked contender and Thai superstar Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong on Friday, June 23, at ONE Friday Fights 22.
The collision with Sitthichai is more than just a chance to burst into the title picture for the American. It is a full circle moment that brings him face to face with “Killer Kid” one more time.
“The only thing I can really say is, it’s a wild ride. Because the only time I went to Thailand, I was training at Sitthichai’s gym with him and Moonlit. Well, I only got in one round with him. And it was just like a flow round. We were just playing around, but I was there with him and Moonlit,” Abasolo recalled to ONE.
“When the fight is over, then I can let all the emotions overcome me. But until then, I just got to stay laser-focused because if I were to let everything overcome me right now, then when I’m in the ring, I’m going to be standing in front of Sitthichai like, ‘Oh, my God! I can’t believe this is Sitthichai right here,’ this and that. And I’m in Lumpinee. And I’ll be too overwhelmed by the situation, but it’s really left me speechless.”
Entering as the underdog excites the Bay Area native. Abasolo does not feel the same pressure that he believes Sitthichai will be under fighting in front of his home audience. But the real danger still lies with the Thai star’s impeccable technique.
But “Silky Smooth” anticipates being able to stymie his opponent’s rhythm in Bangkok.
“I feel like he’s very solid, man. His basics are very strong; his timing is very good. And I feel if I stand in front of him, he’ll be able to pick me apart. If I just stand in front of him and start playing that Thai style with him, I can’t do that. I have to break his rhythm before he breaks mine, basically. He’s a master rhythm breaker. And I just got to make sure I get to that line first,” Abasolo said.
A portion of Abasolo’s confidence comes from his ONE debut against Liam Nolan. Although he was on the wrong end of a decision, he was competing at lightweight and was able to take the stinging strikes from the Brit. He feels it will allow him to respond against the #2 featherweight contender when the time comes.
“So, not that I’m going in there and just saying that I’m going to eat the punches. But if I do, when I do, inevitably get hit, I know that I got the chin for it. As far as the giving end, I feel like it really gives us foreigners a closer advantage to make us equal on a level playing field when it comes to fighting the Thais in Muay Thai. It does change the game tremendously. And I feel like I could deliver,” the 36-year-old stated.
Abasolo knows this will be a difficult task. But with the pressure of Lumpinee weighing on Sitthichai’s return to Muay Thai, the American believes his hunger to contend for the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title will be the ultimate difference.
“And I’m not saying that he doesn’t want this, especially him fighting back in Lumpinee, but I feel like I have more to fight for than he does. And I plan on being ready to fight in all three rounds. And I plan on making it look like he was the underdog if that makes any sense,” Abasolo said.
ONE Friday Fights 22 airs live and free on ONE’s YouTube Channel on Friday, June 23. The action begins at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT.
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