ONE Championship: “Waiting for this contract for three years”

Rifdean Masdor spent three years waiting for a 0,000 main roster contract, and that long-awaited moment finally arrived at The Inner Circle 19.

The 23-year-old Malaysian, who represents Sor Sommai and Sor Kitrungroj, stopped Iranian destroyer Javad Mozafari via first-round TKO at the 94-second mark of their atomweight Muay Thai clash inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 19.

The performance pushed ‘Magic Boy’s’ ONE Championship record to seven wins — five via first-round knockout — and earned him the life-changing six-figure contract he had been chasing for years.

The contract elevates the Malaysian into rarefied air. The Sarawak-born warrior now joins Johan ‘Jojo’ Ghazali and Aliff Sor Dechapan as the only Malaysian fighters to ever earn that kind of opportunity on the global stage.

Speaking to ONE Championship after the contest, Masdor poured his heart out about what the moment meant to him.

“I’ve been waiting for this contract for three years. I’ve got it because I worked hard. Discipline and motivation have always been number one for me,” Rifdean Masdor said.

He added, “Thank you so much to boss Chatri [Sityodtong] for giving me the contract and the bonus, and thank you to my big boss at Sor Sommai. Thank you to my fans and my family. Thank you, everyone.”

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Rifdean Masdor’s life-changing six-figure contract opens the door to a long-awaited ONE world title chase

That kind of patience-meets-discipline mentality is exactly what fast-tracks young fighters into world title contention.

Plenty of prospects chase shortcuts and burn out before they ever get to the global stage. Not Rifdean Masdor, though.

The striking maestro, instead, has spent every minute of the last three years stacking finishes, sharpening his game, and waiting for the exact opportunity to finally arrive.

With his sights now set on reigning ONE atomweight Muay Thai world champion Nadaka, the Malaysian’s pursuit of a defining career chapter is firmly underway.

Overcoming the Japanese star, a multi-time stadium world champion, will not be a walk in the park. But as long as he shows up to the fight with his A-game, there is always that opportunity for him to walk away with 26 pounds of gold wrapped around his waist.