‘I Just Kept Going’ – Jonathan Di Bella Reflects On Redemption Masterclass Over Prajanchai
For Jonathan Di Bella, victory didn’t come from anger or revenge – it came from evolution.
The Italian-Canadian striker walked into ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II in Bangkok, Thailand, with the calm of a man who had already lived the chaos once before. This time, every move, every strike, every step was deliberate – the work of a technician who turned his lone career loss into a lesson.
Over five rounds of high-octane chess, Di Bella’s speed and precision dictated the pace.
His jab split the guard, his kicks found their mark, and his composure never wavered as he edged out pound-for-pound great Prajanchai PK Saenchai in a World Title unification battle to become the undisputed ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion.
He said:
“Just like always, I listened to my team, did my job. I believe I hurt him right away. They told me to go to the body with punches, and I hurt him right away. That’s when I saw his face change, and I just kept going and fighting the whole five rounds.”
Their rivalry had begun 16 months earlier at ONE Friday Fights 68, where Prajanchai outpointed Di Bella to claim the vacant crown – the only blemish on the Italian-Canadian’s pristine record.
But in the rematch, Di Bella flipped the script, using the same intensity that once betrayed him to fuel a controlled and clinical performance.
The 29-year-old said the biggest difference came down to cleaner execution and sharper timing:
“[I was] landing more clean shots. I had to land a lot more clean shots. I hurt him, and I believe I did. I don’t know which round it was, but I caught him with a punch, a hook, and he stumbled. I saw him hurt very bad, and that’s it.”
It was a performance that felt like redemption in motion – every crisp strike, every exchange, a quiet reclaiming of the story that slipped away last year.
When the scorecards were read, Di Bella didn’t hold his breath. He knew what he’d done – and when his name was called, the emotion finally broke through.
The performance not only reunited him with the belt but also earned him a US$50,000 bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Even as emotion washed over him, Di Bella spoke with the calm of a man who’s been here before. He admitted it wasn’t perfect, but it was better – and that, to him, is what growth in martial arts is all about.
He offered:
“I rate my performance maybe an 8 or 7.5.
“There’s always room for improvement. You always have to get better – in every fight, you have to get better. There’s never a perfect performance.”
Di Bella Eyes Second Belt And Possible Super-Fight
With the unified belt now securely back around his waist, undisputed ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Di Bella isn’t looking backward.
The 29-year-old is already eyeing new challenges, including the possibility of facing Prajanchai PK Saenchai again in a trilogy, this time under Muay Thai rules for the Thai legend’s ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.
He said:
“Yeah, true champions are always going to defend their title right away. So whoever wants to come fight for the kickboxing belt, let’s do it. But in the future, for sure, I’d like to challenge Prajanchai for a Muay Thai fight.”
The prospect is tantalizing. A third meeting between the two – one in Di Bella’s precise striking-based world and one in Prajanchai’s elbow-and-clinch domain – would complete a rivalry built on mutual respect and mastery.
Still, Di Bella’s ambition doesn’t stop there.
The undisputed ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion has expressed interest in moving up a weight class for potential super-fights with the likes of ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek, former ONE World Title challenger Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa, and former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon – names synonymous with striking greatness.
He said:
“The super-fights I would think of maybe is at 135 pounds. That would be cool. I’m interested in that, 100 percent. It’s an honor to put your name with the highest pound-for-pound fighters.
“And with all the Thai fighters there, they’re some of the best in the world. It’s an honor to be one of the only foreigners high up there with them, and I’m honored to be there.”
