ONE Championship: Yod-IQ Pimolsri secures contract, eyes rematch with Abdulla Dayakaev
Thai striker earned a permanent place on ONE Championship’s main roster, hopes to compete at ONE 175 in Tokyo
For nearly three years, Yod-IQ Pimolsri worked his way through ONE Championship’s Friday Fights series, building momentum one bout at a time while waiting for a breakthrough that never felt guaranteed.
At ONE Friday Fights 137, the 23-year-old Thai striker finally forced the issue. A violent first-round knockout of Alexey Balyko in a featherweight Muay Thai bout earned him a US$100,000 contract and a permanent place on ONE Championship’s main roster.
The finish carried extra meaning. Balyko had handed Yod-IQ his only loss under the ONE banner in their first meeting, making the rematch a personal test as well as a chance to secure the contract.
“I was focused only on winning this fight,” Yod-IQ told the Post. “I wanted to get the victory and keep my winning streak. I didn’t think about the contract or the bonus at all.”
That single-minded approach paid off. The knockout was immediate and decisive, leaving little doubt about his readiness for the next level.
It also sharpened the focus on a rivalry that has been simmering for months. Abdulla Dayakaev, a rising contender in the bantamweight division, has repeatedly called for a rematch following his loss to Yod-IQ at ONE Friday Fights 82.