YOKKAO WORLD CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN AUSTRALIA AT YOKKAO 51

YOKKAO 51 brought one of the world’s most recognised Muay Thai brands to Brisbane for the first time, marking the beginning of a new partnership between YOKKAO and MTL.

Twelve professional bouts, four championship contests and one of the finest women’s fights seen in Australia filled Nissan Arena with world-class Muay Thai action. Thai stars shared the ring with Australian fighters who had spent years working toward an opportunity of this scale.

Two new YOKKAO World Champions were crowned as Songpayak captured the YOKKAO Featherweight World Championship and Bryony Soden claimed the YOKKAO Super Bantamweight World Championship.

SONGPAYAK MAKES HISTORY AS THE YOUNGEST YOKKAO WORLD CHAMPION

The main event saw Thailand’s rising star Songpayak face Australia’s Matt Clarke for the YOKKAO Featherweight World Championship at 57kg.

Despite being only 18 years old, Songpayak entered the fight with the experience of 86 professional bouts and a record of 71 wins, 12 losses and three draws. Across five rounds, he displayed the complete arsenal of authentic Muay Thai, combining sharp elbows, powerful knees and perfectly timed middle kicks with exceptional composure and ring craft.

The fight plan developed during Songpayak’s training camp at the YOKKAO Training Center in Bangkok became immediately evident. An elbow technique studied and practised with Superlek opened a cut on Clarke in the first round, giving Songpayak an early advantage.

Clarke responded like a true warrior. He continued moving forward, applying pressure and asking serious questions of the Thai fighter throughout the middle rounds. Songpayak remained composed, controlled the distance and used his timing and technical precision to secure the championship rounds.

After five rounds, Songpayak was awarded the decision and crowned YOKKAO Featherweight World Champion. At 18, the Thai rising star became the youngest YOKKAO World Champion in history.

BRYONY SODEN DEFEATS SOMRATSAMEE IN A WORLD-CLASS BATTLE

Bryony Soden delivered the biggest performance of her career against Thailand’s Somratsamee to capture the YOKKAO Super Bantamweight World Championship at 55.3kg.

Having previously headlined MTL events, Soden entered the contest in front of a home crowd but faced an opponent with elite Muay Thai skills and international experience.

Soden showed tremendous heart, aggression and determination, constantly moving forward and refusing to allow Somratsamee to control the contest. The Thai fighter answered in pure Muay Thai style, scoring with well-timed kicks and knees while remaining composed under pressure.

Soden stayed patient through the crucial scoring rounds, continued applying pressure and built her advantage when it mattered most. After five competitive rounds, she earned the judges’ decision and was crowned the new YOKKAO Super Bantamweight World Champion.

The fight represented a major moment for Australian women’s Muay Thai, with Soden defeating a respected Thai opponent in a high-level championship contest.

JONATHAN AIULU CAPTURES THE WBC INTERNATIONAL TITLE

In the co-main event, Jonathan Aiulu defeated Quinn Wasylak over five rounds to become the new WBC Super Welterweight International Champion at 68.9kg.

Aiulu established his power early, sending Wasylak to the canvas twice and building a significant lead on the scorecards before the halfway point of the fight.

Wasylak never stopped looking for a way back into the contest. He continued pressing forward and opened a cut on Aiulu during the championship rounds, but the early knockdowns and Aiulu’s power proved decisive.

Aiulu remained composed until the final bell and earned the decision to leave Nissan Arena with the WBC International Championship.

SUNNY MAWER STOPS ANDY JUNIKU TO WIN THE WBC AUSTRALIAN TITLE

The WBC Super Lightweight Australian Championship at 63.5kg produced the only stoppage of the night.

Sunny Mawer and Andy Juniku exchanged heavy attacks through two fiercely contested rounds before Mawer found the finish in the third. A clean and decisive strike brought the fight to an end, securing Mawer the knockout victory and the WBC Australian title.

The performance further established Mawer as a major force in Australian Muay Thai and a fighter to watch on the international stage.

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: ERIN HARBERGER VS AMANDA JUNIKU

There was no championship belt at stake when Erin Harberger and Amanda Juniku entered the ring at 54kg, but their three-round contest became one of the defining moments of YOKKAO 51.

With more than 70 professional fights between them, both women competed at an extraordinary pace and neither was willing to take a backward step.

Harberger pressed forward, Juniku answered immediately and the exchanges continued until the final bell, bringing the Nissan Arena crowd to its feet. Harberger earned the decision, but both fighters left the ring with their reputations strengthened.

For anyone wanting to understand why Australian women’s Muay Thai has become essential viewing, this is the fight to watch.

FULL YOKKAO 51 RESULTS

YOKKAO Featherweight World Championship

Songpayak defeated Matt Clarke
Fight 12 · 57kg · Decision · Five rounds

WBC Super Welterweight International Championship

Jonathan Aiulu defeated Quinn Wasylak
Fight 11 · 68.9kg · Decision · Five rounds

YOKKAO Super Bantamweight World Championship

Bryony Soden defeated Somratsamee
Fight 10 · 55.3kg · Decision · Five rounds

Brodie Stalder vs Moodoh Soe

Brodie Stalder defeated Moodoh Soe
Fight 9 · 55kg · Split decision · Three rounds

WBC Super Lightweight Australian Championship

Sunny Mawer defeated Andy Juniku
Fight 8 · 63.5kg · Knockout, round three

Harry McIntyre vs Paul Steffens

Harry McIntyre defeated Paul Steffens
Fight 7 · 72.5kg · Decision · Three rounds

Cooper Clarke vs Logan Burgess

Cooper Clarke defeated Logan Burgess
Fight 6 · 65kg · Decision · Three rounds

Fight of the Night

Erin Harberger defeated Amanda Juniku
Fight 5 · 54kg · Decision · Three rounds

Cooper Stewart vs Caleb Curley

Cooper Stewart defeated Caleb Curley
Fight 4 · 70kg · Decision · Three rounds

Whitney Tuna vs Holly Nguyen

Whitney Tuna defeated Holly Nguyen
Fight 3 · 54kg · Decision · Three rounds

Ali Pouresmaeil vs Kurt Bark

Ali Pouresmaeil defeated Kurt Bark
Fight 2 · 95kg · Decision · Three rounds

Cooper Watt vs Nick English

Cooper Watt defeated Nick English
Fight 1 · 63.5kg · Decision · Three rounds

A NEW CHAPTER FOR YOKKAO IN AUSTRALIA

YOKKAO 51 was more than a single night of fights. It marked the beginning of a partnership between YOKKAO and MTL designed to create long-term opportunities for Australian fighters and bring international-level Muay Thai events to the country.

Four championship belts were decided, Australian athletes shared the ring with Thai opposition of genuine international standing and the action remained at the highest level from the opening bout to the main event.

“Australian Muay Thai just got a huge upgrade. This event was the first of an incredible range of opportunities to come from the YOKKAO team, and I’m honoured to be part of it.”

YOKKAO 51 was streamed live worldwide and is now available to watch on YOKKAO Fight Hub. The platform is also available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, giving fans access to YOKKAO events, historic fights, exclusive series, training content and behind-the-scenes footage from the world of YOKKAO.