ONE Championship: Hong Kong Muay Thai fighter Yu Yau-pui earns US$100,000 contract with TKO

Muay Thai atomweight will become her city’s first local fighter in the Asian martial arts promotion after second-round body shot finish in Bangkok

‘Hong Kong is not very supportive of sport. This can really encourage other youngsters in Hong Kong to chase their dreams and not give up,’ Yu says

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Yu Yau Pui breaks down in tears after being awarded a US$100,000 ONE contract. Photos: ONE Championship

Published: 11:50am, 25 Nov 2023Updated: 12:17pm, 29 Jun 2024

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Hong Kong Muay Thai fighter Yu Yau-pui earned herself a US$100,000 main roster ONE Championship contract with her fifth straight ONE Friday Fights victory in Bangkok.

The 30-year-old atomweight stopped WBC flyweight champion Zehra Dogan with a body-shot TKO in the second round at Lumpinee Stadium.

Yu, who trains out of the KF1 gym in Fo Tan, will become just the second fighter from Hong Kong to compete in Asian martial arts promotion ONE, and the first local fighter, after Cameroon-born MMA heavyweight Alain “The Panther” Ngalani – who sent his congratulations on Instagram, saying “Bravo, Hong Kong!”.

During a post-fight interview with commentator Mitch Chilson, Yu was first told she had earned another US$10,000 performance bonus from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

“Thank you so much Mr Chatri, because this really helps a lot for me to continue my fight dream,” Yu said. “It’s very difficult to maintain your reality and your dream.