Davit Kiria has traveled to Thailand early in search of an edge when he welcomes ONE featherweight muay Thai world champion Tawanchai PK.Saenchai to ONE Championship’s kickboxing ranks at “ONE Fight Night 13: Allazov vs. Grigorian” this Friday, August 4.

The Georgian star has called upon former foe Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, to whom he fell to a defeat against in 2022, to assist him in preparing for what Tawanchai will bring to the ring inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

“I’m training with Sitthichai at Sitsongpeenong. He’s teaching me some things, giving me some tips, Kiria said.

“Sitthichai knows (Tawanchai’s) style, and the main reason I came to Thailand is because I’m fighting Tawanchai. I think it’s better to prepare here because I need to spar and practice a lot with the Thai fighters.”

Tawanchai’s strength, by his upcoming foe’s assessment, comes from his kicking game, which has helped push him to a dominant 5-1 slate in ONE’s muay Thai ranks.

Thus, as Kiria sharpens his skills at the Sitsongpeenong Gym in the Thai capital, he has surrounded himself with talented fighters that fit the featherweight muay Thai king’s mold.

“We’re learning how to stop Tawanchai’s kicks. For me, the sparring partners here are better. I’m used to getting kicked and answering back now, he said.

“I don’t only spar with Sitthichai. I spar with him half the time. There are more fighters who I spar, and they are so good at (mimicking Tawanchai’s style). They kick a lot. They also box well. You can say they (mimic) Tawanchai’s style.

Kiria feels that a win over the Thai superstar could propel him toward the front of the queue for a crack at the winner of the ONE featherweight kickboxing world title battle between divisional king Chingiz Allazov and Marat Grigorian that will go down in the main event of ONE Fight Night 13.

He will have a close eye on that matchup, but the Breda, Netherlands resident won’t give it too much thought until he has his own showdown out of the way.

“I always want the best, and I won’t stop. I prefer to fight the winner of Allazov and Grigorian, but after this win, we’ll all go together to ask Mr. Chatri and see what he says. But I accept every (challenge), Kiria said.

“For me, Tawanchai is now the biggest for me. It’s this fight at this moment. What comes next? I don’t know. For me, the biggest man to beat is Tawanchai at this moment.

ONE Fight Night 13 will be broadcast live and free on Prime Video for fans across North America with an Amazon subscription.