Gump Takes Split Decision Over Velihan Palit at ONE Friday Fights 171
Gump stayed perfect inside ONE Championship on Friday, claiming a split decision over Velihan Palit in bantamweight kickboxing at ONE Friday Fights 171 and The Inner Circle 31.
The three-round contest at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok pushed the 23-year-old Japanese fighter to 2-0 under the ONE banner and left Palit still searching for his first win in the promotion.
Gump, billed as “Mr. No Damage” and fighting out of Team Teppen, built his reputation on constant forward pressure. Observers noted that he rarely gave ground, walking Palit down and forcing exchanges rather than circling off the center of the ring.
That approach defined his ONE debut last August, when he outpointed China’s Zhang Haiyang by unanimous decision at ONE Friday Fights 120. Friday’s bout followed a similar pattern even if the scorecards were closer.
Palit, a 23-year-old French-Turkish striker from SAYFA and Team Mehdi Zatout, entered with one previous ONE appearance. He lost a unanimous decision to Japan’s Ranma at ONE Friday Fights 148 in March after absorbing a knockdown.
The Frenchman showed more output in the second and third rounds on Friday, according to ringside accounts, but he did not consistently answer the pressure Gump applied from the opening bell.
Gump’s path to Lumpinee ran through Japan’s domestic kickboxing scene. The Osaka-born fighter captured the DEEP KICK 60-kilogram title and has been ranked among the top lightweights in RISE, where he is listed as a lightweight contender.
His nickname traces back to long solo runs that reminded Team Teppen leadership of Forrest Gump. The catchphrase he carries into the ring is “no damage,” a reflection of the durable, high-pace style he has shown in both RISE and ONE.
Palit arrived in Bangkok with amateur and regional Muay Thai credentials that include a French national title earned as a teenager. He has looked willing to trade and press forward, yet both of his ONE outings have ended in decisions against Japanese opponents.
The split verdict left some viewers arguing that Gump had controlled enough of the fight to win more clearly. Others pointed to Palit’s late activity as the reason one judge saw the bout differently.
Either way, the official result stands. Gump now owns two ONE wins in two trips to Lumpinee, both over three full rounds and both by decision.
That record matters inside a Friday Fights system built to identify fighters who can handle the weekly Lumpinee schedule and eventually earn a larger roster spot. A $100,000 contract remains the carrot for unsigned talent who keep winning on these cards.
Gump is already attached to a well-known Japanese gym and has shown he can travel, make weight, and last nine minutes against international opposition. Another appearance in Bangkok would not be a surprise if ONE wants to keep testing that durability against a different style.
Palit faces a harder short-term picture. Two losses in two ONE kickboxing bouts, both by decision, put pressure on his next booking. He still has youth and a willingness to engage on his side, but he will need a clearer adjustment against pressure fighters who refuse to back up.
Team Teppen sent multiple fighters to this card, underlining how the gym is using Friday Fights as a regular proving ground. Gump’s second win gives the camp another positive result to build around while the rest of the Japan-to-Bangkok pipeline continues.
The rest of ONE Friday Fights 171 featured a mix of Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA as the promotion kept its weekly Lumpinee series rolling.
Gump’s night ended with his hand raised and his ONE ledger unblemished. The next step is whether that 2-0 start turns into a longer run on the Bangkok cards or a step up in opposition later in the year.
Palit will look for a reset. Gump will look for the next name willing to meet him on the front foot.