​The last time Fighting Rooster Zhang Peimian faced Jonathan Di Bella, he was just 19 years old, stepping into a World Title showdown with aspirations far beyond his years. Nearly four years have passed, and that younger version of Zhang feels like a memory. On Friday, July 17, he will again climb into the ring against the reigning ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion, this time for the gold in the main event of The Inner Circle 22. The card takes place at the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and will stream exclusively for members via live.onefc.com.
The rematch is more than three and a half years in the making, and the Chinese fighter stepping into the ring now is a fundamentally different competitor from the teenager who walked into the vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title clash at ONE 162 in October 2022. Their first encounter was a true five-round war. Zhang, already recognized as one of the most gifted young strikers in ONE, went punch-for-punch with the Italian-Canadian southpaw, forcing Di Bella to earn every inch of space. Zhang’s signature left hook and persistent low kicks found a home on Di Bella throughout the contest, testing the Italian-Canadian’s defenses and resilience.
But in the fifth and final stanza, Di Bella landed a head kick that produced a pivotal knockdown. That moment swung the momentum decisively in the Montreal native’s favor, and the judges awarded him a unanimous decision. Zhang left that night with a loss on his record, a World Title out of reach, and a hard-won set of lessons that could only be gained through battle. That defeat became a turning point, one that reshaped his approach to the sport and to life inside and outside the ring.
Ahead of his second title shot, Zhang has had time to reflect on the teenager who first stepped into that arena and offer him something he didn’t have back then: perspective. The 22-year-old now carries a broader sense of the sport and his place within it. He shares what he would tell his younger self: there is no guarantee of victory before the final bell, so give everything you have until the last second. “I would tell him that there is no winning before the final bell rings. Give everything you have before that last second.”
Di Bella arrives at this rematch in peak form. The 29-year-old Knicks fan from New York carries a 15-1 career record and comes into the bout on a three-fight winning streak, underscoring his status as one of the most complete strikers on the planet. Their first encounter was about more than a clash of skill—it was a mental battle as well. Di Bella’s attempts to get into Zhang’s head during the fight exposed a vulnerability in the Chinese hopeful that, at the time, he was not prepared to defend against. The passage of nearly four years has reshaped that dynamic in a profound way.
The interval between these two ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship clashes with Jonathan Di Bella has been about more than refining technique. It has been a period of growth, learning, and personal development that has hardened Zhang’s resolve. He has sharpened his weapons and strengthened his mindset in equal measure. He recalls the mindset he carried into the first fight and recognizes what it takes to win at the highest level. “My weapons are sharpened, and my mind is stronger. He taunted me throughout the entire fight, and I fell for it in the moment. It won’t happen again.”
This long-awaited rematch represents more than just a chance to reclaim a World Title. It marks a transformation in Zhang Peimian’s journey as a fighter and as a person. The years away from the spotlight have given him the opportunity to grow—from a talented young contender with flashes of brilliance to a seasoned athlete whose evolution runs deeper than technique. He has learned to navigate pressure, to maintain composure under fire, and to respond with calculated, relentless offense when the moment calls for it.
As The Inner Circle 22 approaches, expectations are high. The Lumpinee Stadium crowd in Bangkok will witness a clash that is about redemption, growth, and confirmation of a once-promising talent who has become a formidable force in ONE Championship. For Zhang Peimian, this rematch with Jonathan Di Bella is not just about a World Title belt; it is about sealing a personal transformation and proving that the lessons learned over four formative years have culminated in a fighter who is ready to dominate the global stage. The fight will stream exclusively for members on live.onefc.com, and fans around the world will finally see how the new version of Zhang Peimian measures up against a veteran rival who has grown into one of the division’s most feared attackers.