Get Ready for the ‘Funky Drummer’ Showdown!
What’s the Buzz?
ONE Championship’s brand‑new ONE Super Series is already sparking fireworks, and the next headline act is a jaw‑dropping clash between Fabrice “The Funky Drummer” Fairtex Delannon (55‑10) and Yodpanomrung “The Lightning Knee” Jitmuangnon (230‑68‑2). The bout is slated for one of Indonesia’s biggest events: ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES in Jakarta on 22 September.
Why Fans Should be Amped
- Delannon brings Three‑time Max Muay Thai World Champion swagger. His French‑Guianese roots add a dash of international flair.
- Jitmuangnon boasts a six‑time Muay Thai World Champion record, and he’s a bona‑fide Lumpinee Stadium legend.
- Both fighters have sweet‑spot history – they’ve hung their heads for top‑tier titles and know what it takes to win.
Delannon’s Do‑Weal Perfecting Moment
His Super Series debut at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER gave a red‑eye lesson: a doctor’s stoppage in the bout with Petchmorrakot Wor. Sangprapai, the two‑division Lumpinee champion, left him on the brink of a clean sweep. But the French‑Guianese fighter wasn’t rattled.
“It felt great to make my debut,” he says. “I was at the same level as my opponent, and I was doing well. Those Lumpinee champions are so good, and I was just close behind him. That was the most important thing. It was encouraging.”
Strategy? The Funky Drummer Says It’s All in the Head!
Delannon’s take is simple and spicy:
- Rely on his intuitive mind—no strict game plan.
- Use his head game to create openings.
- When he feels a sweet spot, he goes for it.
“I need to find an opportunity and blow it up,” he muses. “I never have a plan on how to win. I just feel it, then I go. I’m an intuitive person.”
Dream Big: The World Title and a Superstar Encounter
Delannon wants more than just a win; he’s eyeing the cup of ONE Super Series’s crown. And hey—he also looks forward to the chance to battle Nong‑O Gaiyanghadao, the Muay Thai hero he sees as the ultimate test.
“What I want is to fight the best fighters,” he says. “Nong‑O is supposed to be the best. To have the opportunity to fight him, for a belt, would be amazing.”
