ONE Championship’s Prajanchai warned ‘don’t take me for granted’ as Rui Botelho reveals tensions

Rui Botelho staked his claim to challenge Prajanchai PK Saenchai for the ONE Championship strawweight kickboxing title, after revealing tensions between the two.
Portugal’s Botelho beat Thailand’s Thongpoon – also from Bangkok’s famed PK Saenchai gym – by unanimous decision in a Muay Thai clash at ONE Fight Night 25 in Bangkok last weekend.
He now wants to face Prajanchai, who also holds the Muay Thai belt, in 2025, though may have to go through former kickboxing king Jonathan Di Bella.
“The only option that makes sense to me is the belt – not Jonathan Di Bella, but ‘di belt’. I really don’t care. But to be honest I would love to fight Prajanchai,” Botelho told the Bangkok Post backstage at Lumpinee Stadium after his win on Saturday.
“When I was younger I saw him in Muay Ties from Timo [Ruge]. It was like, man, Prajanchai was fighting at my weight. So I trained with him at PK. 
“Things didn’t go well with both of us. Since my fight with Zhang, he did not speak with me at PK. So it’s like, bro, don’t take me for granted.”
It was a second straight win for Botelho, who also secured a split decision over former title challenger Zhang Peimian a year ago in the same stadium.
Botelho insisted that win was no fluke, despite a patchy 3-5 record in ONE that includes two contentious split decision losses, and a unanimous decision defeat by current bantamweight champion Superlek Kiatmoo9.
“I fought Panpayak, I fought Superlek. If you know Thai culture, they respect me,” Botelho added. “ I fought the best of the best in the category above mine. 
“I’m sorry, but I’m [expletive] proud of myself. Next year, I’m fighting for the belt, I can tell you that.
“When you are in the Champions League, all these guys are tough. I’m in the Champions League and I’m not at the bottom. I’m one of the toughest contenders here. 
“Be careful when you fight me. Don’t take it for granted. I think Zhang took it for granted. Zhang, I don’t want the rematch, bro. I won, so search for another name.”
Botelho paid tribute to Thongpoon, who slipped to a second straight loss in ONE, but insisted he is on a different level.
“He’s not only hitting hard … you know Juggernaut from Marvel? Like that, he can run and smash walls and keep going,” Botelho said, laughing. “But bro, it’s not a street fight, you have to be smart. I think I was smarter than him, but I know I’m a tough guy too.  
“Every fight, people took me for granted. When I went to the K-1 World Grand Prix [in 2015], I fought one guy, Nobuchika Terado. I won that fight and they didn’t give me the win. But it is what it is in Japan. 
“But don’t take me for granted. I have cardio, I have strength, for five rounds, six rounds. I’m going for the belt. Never quit on your dreams.”