ONE Championship: Stephen Irvine eyes flyweight gold ahead of Suablack Tor Pran49 showdown at ONE Fight Night 45
Stephen Irvine seeks flyweight gold ahead of Suablack showdown in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 45; the Scot holds a 30-4 record including seven wins but standing opposite him is one of Thailand's most experienced Muay Thai fighters
Friday 17 July 2026 11:40, UK
Scottish Muay Thai star Stephen Irvine makes his ONE Championship global roster debut against Suablack Tor Pran49 in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 45, live on Sky Sports in the early hours of Saturday.
'El Matador' believes victory over Suablack can provide the perfect launchpad for a charge towards the ONE Championship flyweight Muay Thai world title.
The Scot faces the dangerous Thai in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 45, in the early hours of Saturday morning from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium.
It marks another major milestone in Irvine's rapid rise after earning a £75,000 contract and a place on ONE Championship's global roster with a spectacular first-round head-kick knockout of Rambong Sor Therapat at ONE Friday Fights 128 in October 2025.
Now holding a 30-4 record including seven wins in ONE Championship, Irvine, who has competed exclusively in the strawweight ranks, begins the next chapter of his career by moving up to the promotion's flyweight Muay Thai division for the first time.
"It's good to be in the co-main event for my first ever fight on Fight Night," Irvine said. "It's a big compliment for me to be in the co-main event for my first appearance."
Standing opposite him is one of Thailand's most experienced Muay Thai fighters.
Suablack, who has become a viral sensation due to his extraordinarily muscular legs, earned his own place on ONE Championship's global roster after six consecutive victories on the ONE Friday Fights series. Now, four months following a loss in kickboxing, he returns to his Muay Thai roots.
Despite acknowledging that Suablack is likely to be the naturally bigger man, Irvine believes the move to flyweight will ultimately work in his favour.
"I've fought a lot of southpaws, so it's very similar to my other fights. Every fight is different, but I'm prepared for everything that he's got," he said.
"I think my skill set is better than his. It's a new weight for me, which is going to play into my hands.
"I know he's coming down [from bantamweight], so he'll be a bit bigger, but I'm going to have the speed advantage. I've studied Suablack a lot, and I'm confident that I can beat anything he has."
Suablack has promised to bring constant pressure when they meet on his home turf inside Lumpinee Stadium. But Irvine believes that approach will play directly into his own hands.
"I don't think it's a great idea for him," Irvine said.
"I've heard that's his plan, but I don't think that's going to be his best move. I wish him good luck with the game plan he has prepared. I don't think he'll be able to handle me. Let's wait and see how it goes."
Victory would establish Irvine as a genuine contender in one of ONE Championship's deepest Muay Thai divisions, although the 26-year-old accepts a world title opportunity will have to be earned.
"My goal is to be the champion," he said. "I'll do what it takes to get there. Every fight is a step in that direction.
"I know it's not there right now. I'll need to win a few fights, but I'll do what it takes. It might take some time, but that's okay."
His immediate prediction for Saturday's contest, however, was considerably more direct.
"I'm going to knock him out," Irvine said. "I'll get the kill. I'll get the bonus. That's what I'm expecting."
