Lebanese Muay Thai fighter clenches victory on August 4, dedicates win to port victims

Muay Thai star Abdallah Ondash showed typical Lebanese fighting spirit to earn a great comeback win on his debut at world-famous martial arts organization ONE Championship, dedicating his win to the victims of the Beirut Port blast.

Ondash’s debut at ONE Championship’s event, ONE Friday Fights 27, came on the third anniversary of the catastrophic explosion that destroyed 70,000 homes, killing more than 220 people and wounding at least 6,500.

Despite facing a dangerous Thai fighter, Parnpet Sor Jor Lekmuangnon, in front of his home fans in Bangkok, Ondash showed great courage to secure a magnificent knockout (KO) one second away from the end of the third and final round.

After the fight, an emotional Ondash spoke of his pride of picking up a win while representing his country on a day of national mourning, showing the resilience Lebanon’s people are known for.

Ondash said: “I dedicate this win to the victims of the Beirut Port explosion and I want to dedicate it also to Lebanon, which is struggling financially and economically, and I dedicate this win to my parents.”

He continued: “In the explosion, we were damaged, my siblings and I, my club, our apartment, but thank God we went back to our feet and didn’t give up.”

The 22-year-old had only recently moved to Thailand where he is training alongside his brothers, Ahmad and Ramadan, at the famed Tiger Muay Thai gym. His father was also a professional wrestler in Turkey.

Ondash employed a cautious approach in the first round, countering his opponent’s strong body kicks, and attempting to throw punches. After the first two rounds, it seemed that Parnpet was close to earning a victory until Ondash pulled off a miraculous comeback.

With one minute remaining on the third and final round, Ondash unleashed quick and vicious punching combinations, leaving his Thai counterpart cornered in the ring.

Parnpet struggled to keep up with the Lebanese fighter’s pace and dropped to the canvas, handing Ondash a memorable victory inside the world-famous Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

With this win, Ondash improves his overall professional Muay Thai record to 18-1. The Lebanese fighter, who started his career in 2016, took his chance and earned a big victory on his ONE Championship debut, earning a 10,000-dollar performance bonus in the process.  

Founded in 2011 by CEO and Chairman Chatri Sityodtong, ONE Championship is considered the largest martial arts organization in the world, boasting hundreds of talents from more than 80 countries on its roster.

ONE broadcasts its shows, which include fights in Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and Submission Grappling, in more than 150 countries.

ONE Friday Fights 27 is the 27th installment of the weekly fight series which takes place inside the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, every Friday starting at 3:30 PM Beirut Time.