‘Something New And Fun’ – Superbon Shares His Experience Leading Team Thailand On Netflix’s Physical: Asia
When Physical: Asia premiered on Netflix on October 28, ONE Championship fans were happy to see a familiar face.
ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon made a grand entrance into the competition arena wearing his Mongkol, bringing with him the pride of Muay Thai. Draped over his left shoulder was the glittering symbol of his greatness — the ONE World Title.
As the leader of Team Thailand, the global striking icon looked every bit the national hero he’s become today. His arrival drew instant recognition from fellow competitors, including World Champions, Olympians, and elite athletes from across the continent and beyond.
Suffice it to say, Superbon commanded an on-screen presence that sent chills down viewers’ spines.
The 35-year-old is currently preparing to defend his throne against interim featherweight kickboxing king Masaaki Noiri at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
And as he wraps up training camp, Superbon took the time to look back on this Netflix challenge, and the chance to test himself on a completely new battlefield:
“The production team reached out to me and invited me to compete. I had watched the first season of Physical: 100, so I sat down with the team to talk about filming for the show in Korea. I immediately thought, ‘Wow, this is something new and fun!’ Plus, it’s not acting, it’s a competition where you use your physical potential, which is what I’m naturally good at.
“Honestly, if they asked me to act in a drama, I’d probably say no because I’m not good at it. But this felt like a sports competition they were filming as we competed, so I felt like, ‘Yeah, this is exciting’ because it really utilizes your physical abilities and it’s not fixed to one specific sport. So, I wanted to give it a try and joined them.”
The hit Netflix series is the international evolution of Physical: 100, bringing together elite athletes from eight nations to face high-stakes physical challenges in a team format.
For the Thai superstar, the invitation made perfect sense. As a three-time ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion and the #1-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender, Superbon has long been celebrated for his precision, discipline, and composure under pressure — traits that made him a natural fit for the show.
The team-based format also brought out a different side of the 35-year-old World Champion. Inside the ring, he’s a lone warrior. On Physical: Asia, he had to blend his strengths with others — strategizing, encouraging, and leading.
He said:
“However, because it’s a team competition, not an individual one like before, it can be a bit harder because you have to rely on and trust the experts in your team. But it was fun! I enjoy any competitive game. If they invite me again, I’ll definitely go. It was a lot of fun, and the money was good too! That’s the best part.
“It was fun, though, because in those moments, things get pretty serious. You need decisiveness, how should we do this? How should we manage it? How should we strategize? And I might be the person on the team who has experienced the most high-pressure, serious athletic competition, like when I fight in Muay Thai.”
Superbon Proud To Represent ONE Championship And Thailand On Netflix Hit Series
For Superbon, Physical: Asia wasn’t just another show. It was a chance to represent both Thailand and ONE Championship before a worldwide audience.
Standing under the bright lights, the 35-year-old striker understood the weight of responsibility in international competition. It wasn’t just about proving himself. It was about showcasing Thailand’s fighting spirit on a global platform.
Every lift, every challenge, every moment was another opportunity to highlight the discipline and resilience that define Muay Thai, and qualities that represented the Thai people.
He said:
“It felt great. I was honored to represent or bring fame to ONE Championship. I feel like ONE Championship athletes have a global reputation, and the promotion is known worldwide. I was very honored to be a part of ONE, Physical: Asia, and Netflix.”
Appearing on a major Netflix series gave him a different kind of spotlight, one that reached beyond martial arts fans to millions of viewers discovering his name for the first time.
Throughout filming, the Thai superstar mingled and competed with other global icons, including boxing legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, former MMA World Champion Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker, and even fellow ONE athlete Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu.
He said:
“Yes, we greeted each other. But it seemed like many of them couldn’t speak much English. I got to say hi to many athletes like Manny Pacquiao, and UFC fighter Robert Whittaker. There were many top athletes from various sports like wrestling and others on different teams. I didn’t get all their names, but it was really cool that they brought together world-class athletes like that.”
That mix of World Champions across different sports reminded Superbon how far martial artists have come and how much they are celebrated today. Standing alongside the world’s greatest athletes and competing among them in front of a mainstream audience was a validating experience, and he has ONE to thank.
Now, as he prepares for his highly anticipated World Title unification clash with Japan’s Masaaki Noiri at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on November 16, the Thai superstar is proud to be a symbol of Thailand’s fighting spirit.
Superbon said:
“Many people ask me how I got there. I believe it comes down to my journey. I am a Champion in ONE Championship, and I gained my fame through ONE before being invited onto the Netflix show.
“It’s not easy to stand here as the ONE Kickboxing World Champion, and being picked up by Netflix is probably a side benefit of achieving that status. So, I have to thank ONE for promoting their athletes to become global, world-renowned idols.”
