ONE Championship: Sinsamut Klinmee first fighter to join openweight Muay Thai grand prix

ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced plans for a 16-man tournament with a US$1 million prize for the winner

Thailand’s Sinsamut, a former lightweight kickboxing title challenger, joins the bracket with first round set for March

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Sinsamut Klinmee celebrates a knockout victory over Nieky Holzken in his ONE debut. Photos: ONE Championship.

Published: 11:22am, 23 Jan 2023

Sinsamut Klinmee is the first official entrant into ONE Championship’s anticipated openweight Muay Thai grand prix.

ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed plans for the tournament this month, but did not initially reveal any of the fighters set to compete.

That changed at the post-fight press conference for ONE’s Friday debut in the famed Lumpinee stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, when the ONE boss tabbed Sinsamut as the first official grand prix competitor.

“The first person in the 16-man grand prix [is] Sinsamut,” he said.

Sinsamut, 27, was last in action in October, when he lost a split decision to Dutchman Regian Eersel in a failed bid to claim the ONE lightweight kickboxing belt.

Before that, he posted a pair of stunning second-round knockout wins over Nieky Holzken and Liam Nolan, both of which were contested at lightweight under Muay Thai rules.

Sinsamut Klinmee throws a punch at Liam Nolan at ONE 156.

He is understandably excited about the tournament ahead, which features a US$1 million prize for the winner.