Nabati Eyes Yod-IQ Rematch After Nontachai Bout

Kiamran Nabati heads into Friday's main event already mapping out what comes next.

The Russian striker meets Nontachai Jitmuangnon in bantamweight Muay Thai action at The Inner Circle 31, streaming from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. The bout was originally slated for ONE Fight Night 46 last month before a hydration test failure and illness scrapped the pairing entirely, per BJPenn.com.

Nabati Targets Yod-IQ After First Pro Loss

Nabati's real focus sits one weight class above his Friday opponent. ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri handed Nabati his first professional defeat by split decision in May, then claimed the title against Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon at The Inner Circle 30 last month. Nabati watched that five-round war and saw an opening. "I want to congratulate Yod-IQ. It was a good fight, and he won all five rounds against Rambolek," Nabati told BJPenn.com. "When I saw his fight, I knew that I could beat this guy because our fight was so close and I thought I was winning."

The rematch pitch is already prepared, though Nabati has accepted that Friday's assignment comes first. He plans to approach ONE's matchmakers immediately after a win over Nontachai. "For now, I want to beat Nontachai — that's my target," he said. "After that, I will try to ask the matchmakers to give me a rematch because it's gonna be five rounds and it will be a war. We will go there to win or die."

The Inner Circle 31 streams live Friday, September 18.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Kiamran Nabati eyes Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri rematch with win over Nontachai Jitmuangnon