The Inner Circle 22 is slamming into Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, July 17, and trust me, you are not ready for the main event. We are talking about a kickboxing world title rematch that has been simmering for four long years, as Jonathan Di Bella and Zhang Peimian finally run it back for the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship. Their first clash in 2022 was an absolute war, and the tension for this second chapter is absolutely through the roof.
Four Years, One World Title, Zero Easy Answers
Back in 2022, Di Bella, then undefeated, just barely edged out the incredibly hardy Chinese star in Kuala Lumpur. Zhang refused to yield over 15 brutal minutes, making it one of the year's most breathtaking kickboxing clashes. Since that defining night, Di Bella has been nothing short of sensational, racking up four more wins and pushing his record to a stunning 15-1. He has defended his title against Sam-A Gaiyanghadao with a masterclass performance and even unified it against Prajanchai PongSuphan PK , the one guy who ever handed him a loss. This 29-year-old is a calculated technician, folks, with high-IQ striking that makes him one of the most complex puzzles to solve in the ring. Zhang’s journey back to this shot at gold? Way rockier. He has had a grueling stretch, pulling in just two wins across five outings since that heartbreaking defeat. But instead of fading, the 22-year-old clawed his way back with absolute statement performances over Thongpoon PK Saenchai and "El Jefe" Ellis Badr Barboza. Now, four years later, they both hit the same stage, driven by unfinished business. Di Bella wants to prove that technical gap has only widened, while Zhang aims to show that teenager who almost dethroned him has matured into an entirely different threat. Talk about high stakes.The 355-7 Prodigy Returns To Show Them How It's Done
If you thought the main event was wild, wait until you see the return of the P4P queen of women’s grappling, Helena Crevar. This 19-year-old superstar, trained and promoted to black belt by the legendary John Danaher, has completely redefined what is possible for her age. Seriously, her sheer dominance has made her the absolute gold standard of the sport. Crevar rolls into this matchup with a staggering 355-7 record, and she announced her global stage arrival back in January with a slick estima lock finish against Teshya Noelani Alo. This young woman possesses elite, high-level experience that most competitors twice her age never even get close to. She rarely hits the mats and finds a puzzle she cannot swiftly solve. But this Friday, that theory gets tested to its absolute limit. Enter Paige Ivette Clymer, a surging debutant from San Diego’s ultra-competitive grappling scene, who earned IBJJF gold at purple belt before getting her black belt. She has got every intention of derailing that hype train in their openweight submission grappling battle. Get ready for fireworks. So yeah, with a world title rematch that has been four years in the making and a grappling phenom ready to add another clinical submission to her resume, this Friday night is going to be absolutely nuts. You have to tune in to The Inner Circle 22, streaming live on July 17 from Lumpinee Stadium, because the stakes for everyone stepping into that ring are through the roof. Don't miss a second of it.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.