Nakrob Fairtex needed this one, and he made sure there was no doubt about the outcome.
The 27-year-old Fairtex Training Center representative from Surin, Thailand, arrived at ONE Fight Night 44 on Friday, June 26, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok with something to prove.
Standing across from him was Jacob Smith of England, a durable veteran who had twice pushed former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang ‘The Iron Man’ Jitmuangnon to the limit.
Smith came out confident from the opening bell, matching Nakrob punch for punch and refusing to yield ground. A sharp jab from the Thai sent Smith stumbling backward, though the referee waved it off without ruling a knockdown.
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Nakrob found his rhythm in the clinch as the fight developed. He latched onto Smith repeatedly, driving knees into his midsection and working elbows on the inside. One elbow opened a cut along Smith’s hairline and shifted the momentum firmly in Nakrob’s favour.
The third round turned into an elbow war, with Smith trading back with genuine heart, but Nakrob kept scoring, and all three judges saw it clearly in his favour.
Official result: Nakrob Fairtex defeats Jacob Smith via unanimous decision
The win pushed Nakrob’s record to 70-25 and ended a difficult three-fight losing streak that had threatened to derail one of the division’s most promising careers.
He had dropped back-to-back knockout losses to Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi and Taiki Naito before a split decision loss to Panrit Lukjaomaesaiwaree completed a rough stretch.
Back on track in a talent-laden flyweight Muay Thai division, Nakrob has the tools to push himself back toward the rankings with more performances like this one.
The full replay of ONE Fight Night 44: Jarvis vs. Rungrawee II on Prime Video is available on demand for Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.
Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim