Lenny Blasi is not coming to Bangkok to make up the numbers. The 22-year-old Italian striker faces Worapon Lukjaoporongtom in the bantamweight Muay Thai main event of The Inner Circle 28 on August 28, streaming live on live.onefc.com, and he arrives with the hunger of a fighter who sees this as the perfect opportunity to announce himself to the world in the most emphatic fashion.
Blasi carries a 31-8 striking record and a 3-2 ONE record into the main event, riding a two-fight winning streak that has sharpened both his confidence and his ambition.
Worapon, 23, arrives as the more established name on the card, boasting 71 career wins and a 9-5 ONE slate. The Thai fighter's track record only adds to the appeal of the matchup for the Italian, who has always drawn his best performances from situations where the stakes are at their highest.
"He's a great fighter. When I face opponents who are more famous than me, I always feel like I'm going to hunt them to steal their star power. If I beat him, I'm gonna steal his [popularity]. So for me it's a great opportunity," he said.
Blasi has done his homework on the Thai star and identified the weapons that make Worapon a genuine threat inside the ring. But knowing what is coming and having a plan to deal with it has given the Italian a quiet confidence heading into the main event.
"His biggest strength for sure is the clinch. And his left kick is fast and is good. His elbows are nice. But I believe I can do it. I will surprise a lot of people," he explained.
Blasi is not just planning to win. He is planning to entertain, and he already has the finish mapped out in his mind with the kind of specificity that suggests a fighter who has been visualising this moment for some time.
"[Fans] can expect a great performance. They will see I will have fun, and they will be surprised by me. I will give them a great show. I think I will win by KO in the second round," he added.
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