ONE Championship: Suakim pays price for aggressive approach in Balyko clash at ONE Friday Fights 46
- Russian Alexey Balyko earns US$10,000 bonus for winning entertaining clash with Suakim Sor Jor Tongprajin
- Four other fighters take home performance bonuses, including Kompetch Fairtex in co-main event
ONE Championship returned for the first time this year on Friday, with a host of fights at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
The main event set Suakim Sor Jor Tongprajin against Alexey Balyko in a catchweight fight set at 140lbs, and the clash of styles made for an entertaining contest.
With Russian Balyko looking to walk forwards and throw punches, and his Thai opponent countering with elbows.
The pair traded knockdowns over the opening two rounds, although neither was seriously hurt, and by the end of the second were trading punches and elbows in the middle of the ring.
Having wobbled the Russian, Suakim decided to take an aggressive approach to the third round and he paid a heavy price, walking into a counter strike from Balyko that folded the Thai for a final time.
There was no question of Suakim beating the count with the fight halted 22 seconds into the third round. Afterwards Balyko was awarded a US$10,000 bonus for his performance, the second time in succession he has beaten a Thai opponent on one of these cards.