“Smokin” Jo Nattawut Makes a Grand Return Home
After trading soil for sand in the United States, “Smokin” Jo Nattawut has landed back in Thailand just in time to put the kettle on for his next showdown in ONE Championship.
Upcoming Face‑off: Thai Fighter vs. French Contender
July 13th at ONE: Pursuit of Power in Kuala Lumpur, the local legend will go toe‑to‑toe with Frenchman Yohann Fairtex Drai. Both fighters hail from proud Muay Thai lineages, but their journeys tell a different story.
Why Jo Hopped Back to the Land of Smiles
- Younger than 25, Jo shot off from Georgia to soak up Thailand’s sweet atmosphere.
- Three weeks ahead of the fight, he travelled to Bangkok to get a solid “home‑grown” finish to his camp.
- He’s swapping jet‑lag for a little extra time in the region, so he can hit the scales in full form before the big day.
“From time to time, I’ll head back to Thailand a couple of weeks before a bout, just to get back into the groove,” Jo explains, while training in the city that gave Muay Thai its name. “The sessions in Georgia are solid, but here, I feel the tempo better and more authenticity.”
The Opponent’s Two‑Way Street
Yohann “Drai” Fairtext—actually the name is Yohann Fairtex Drai, but you can call him Drai—has been living in the fairly warm land of Pattaya. He’s been studying under big names Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex and Saemapetch Fairtex, all of whom have shaken the ONE scene.
Still, Jo is convinced he brings the tough kick game and wrestling clinch that might just get the job.
Proving He Has the Edge
“He’s a solid fighter,” Jo says, stepping up to the mirrors. “He has those big, sweet pins and strong kicks, but I don’t think my kicks and clinch are weaker than anyone else.” He’s known for crushing leg strikes and powerful pushes. He’s also got a knack for saying, “Every punch I throw packs, so my cruisers might get stuck under my weight.”
On the Stakes
He’s squarely training under the ONE Muay Thai rules—his favorite boxing‑type structure—and his goal is clear: gold in ONE Championship’s scratch‑firing round. A victory over Drai could send him a step closer to that dream.
So sit tight, watch the Thai grind the French, and let’s see what fireworks happen on the islands of Kuala Lumpur!
