Aliff becomes first Malaysian to win ONE Championship title

 Ahmad Nor Iman Aliff Rakib secured the victory with a fifth-round knockout against Muay Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.

Ahmad Nor Iman Aliff Rakib secured the victory with a fifth-round knockout against Sam-A Gaiyanghadao to clinch the interim straw-weight (52.3-56.7kg) Muay Thai title. (Muaythai Malaysia Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

National Muay Thai fighter Ahmad Nor Iman Aliff Rakib became the first Malaysian to win a ONE Championship combat sports title after defeating Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao in Bangkok tonight.

Aliff, 22, secured the victory with a fifth-round knockout against Sam-A to clinch the interim straw-weight (52.3-56.7kg) Muay Thai title, reported Harian Metro.

A ONE Championship interim title is a temporary championship belt awarded when a reigning world champion is temporarily unable to defend their title due to reasons like injury or extended inactivity

The win was a major achievement for Aliff, the son of former boxer Rakib Ahmad, who defeated one of the most respected names in World Muay Thai at Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

The fifth-round KO capped a dominant performance from Aliff, who kept up the pressure throughout the fight before finding an opening to knock down the Thai veteran.

“I gave my all to win this championship. I went through many challenges and endured a lot of hardship to reach this stage. I dedicate this victory and the belt to my father,” he said.

The Kelantan-born fighter also received a US$50,000 (RM214,000) bonus. The victory puts Aliff on course for a potential title-unification bout against reigning straw-weight Muay Thai champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai. - FMT