Petchpanomrung Kiatmookao (156-35-2, 25 KO's) is a man on a mission ahead of his GLORY 41 SUPERFIGHT SERIES fight with Robin van Roosmalen this Saturday.
The 21-year-old is facing Roosmalen (37-7, 21 KO's) for the vacant featherweight championship in the co-headline fight and wants to become the youngest champion in GLORY history.
'Petch' booked himself the title shot by winning the four-man Featherweight Contender Tournament at GLORY 39 BRUSSELS in March. This title fight is taking place in Den Bosch, Holland, which is Roosmalen's home city.
“I am really grateful for the opportunity to fight Robin in his home town. Winning the fight will really improve my life a lot, because of the money. I would also be the youngest GLORY champion ever. That would mean a lot to Thailand and I would gain a lot of respect from that,” he says.
“This fight is really important to me personally because I know that it would change my life in the future. I know that it is a big opportunity. Winning would help my family massively. They could buy nice things, or if they need to buy things like medications or pay for school fees, they can do things like that.”
Petchpanomrung grew up in the Thai province of Buriram, a rural region where poverty is the norm. He recalls growing up “in a house that was just one room, we all slept in one room, all together” and those memories are what fuel his determination to succeed and provide a better life for his parents and siblings.
“The money that I earn now is shared with my family. After fighting I will start my own business, maybe I own my own gym or something like that, but right now I am just concentrating on fighting and earning,” he says.
One thing he is not putting his energy into is trash-talking... or is he? Roosmalen stated last week that he expects Petch to last one round and be 'done' in the second. It is very rare for fighters in Thailand to make such comments about each other.
“I expect it, it's normal for fighters from Western culture but I want to show that Thai people won't be beaten by anyone,” he shrugs. “Robin already lost a GLORY belt to a Thai fighter once before in Amsterdam and now it's going to happen to him again.”
GLORY 41 SUPERFIGHT SERIES airs live worldwide on UFC Fight Pass and starts at 9.30pm Netherlands time, 3.30pm New York time, 7.30pm UK time.
