Jo Nattawut

Nattawut Somkhun (Thai: ณัฐวุฒิ โสมกูล; born October 7, 1989), also known as Jo Nattawut and Smokin' Jo, is a Thai Muay Thai kickboxer. He is a 5-time Lion Fight super welterweight champion and 1-time Lion Fight middleweight champion. He currently competes in ONE Championship for ONE Super Series.

Biography Early years Jo Nattawut, born Nattawut Somkhun in Nakhon Ratchasima, Northeastern Isan region of Thailand, grew up playing football at school and spent his weekends working on local rice farms. Jo first discovered Muay Thai at 10 years old, when he saw his football coach hitting a heavy bag. Jo asked to join, starting to train Muay Thai after football practice. He took his first fight at the age of 10 with 12 hours notice. Eventually, he decided to join a Muay Thai camp near his house and continue training in his free time. When he was 18 years old, Jo moved to Bangkok to join a gym and get serious about Muay Thai.

After a year and a half of no success in Muay Thai, Jo gave up Muay Thai and moved to Ko Pha-ngan island. During the day, he worked at a restaurant, hotel, and fitness gym, and at night he sold whiskey on the beach for tourist parties. Jo also organized Muay Thai showcases for tourists and occasionally put himself on the card to fight.

Move to the United States and career resurgence Nattawut moved to the United States in early 2013. He first lived in Colorado, where he fell in love with snowboarding. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia in late 2013, where he taught kickboxing and Muay Thai classes.

Lion Fight In the United States, Nattawut fought for Lion Fight, an American Muay Thai organization based in Las Vegas. His first fight was with one week's notice, at Lion Fight 17 against Cosmo Alexandre. Nattawut won by split decision. His next fight was arranged with 24 hours notice against Sean Kearney at Lion Fight 19. He won by unanimous decision.

At Lion Fight 22, Nattawut defeated Salah Khalifa to win the Lion Fight Super Welterweight Championship. He successfully defended the super welterweight title five times, beating Charlie Peters at Lion Fight 24, Cedric Manhoef at Lion Fight 28, Hasan Toy at Lion Fight 33, Kengsiam Nor Sripueng at Lion Fight 35, and Petchtanong Banchamek at Lion Fight 37. He also defeated fellow Thai expatriate fighter Malaipet Sasiprapa at Lion Fight 32 to win the Lion Fight Middleweight Championship.

ONE Championship After winning multiple Muay Thai titles at the Lion Fight tournaments in the United States, including the Lion Fight Super Welterweight and Lion Fight Middleweight Titles, Nattawut signed a contract with ONE Championship. He made his ONE debut on April 20, 2018 at ONE Championship: Heroes of Honor in Manila, facing legendary kickboxer Giorgio Petrosyan. He lost to Petrosyan by unanimous decision.

His next fight was against Yohann Drai at ONE Championship: Pursuit of Power in Kuala Lumpur on July 13, 2018. Nattawut would knock out Drai in the first round, giving him his first win in ONE Championship. On November 9, 2018, he faced George Mann of Scotland at ONE Championship: Heart of the Lion in Singapore, where he won by unanimous decision.

On February 16, 2019, Jo Nattawut would return to fight in Thailand for the first time since moving to the United States at ONE Championship: Clash of Legends in Bangkok. His opponent at the event was Samy Sana of France, whom he defeated by unanimous decision.

2019 ONE Kickboxing Featherweight World Grand Prix Nattawut was selected to compete in the ONE Super Series Kickboxing Featherweight World Grand Prix, which included Yodsanklai Fairtex, Giorgio Petrosyan, and Dzhabar Askerov. His opponent for the Quarter-Finals was Sasha Moisa, a Ukrainian fighter who also competes in Lethwei in the World Lethwei Championship (itself a partner of ONE Championship). In the Grand Prix Quarter-Finals at ONE Championship: Enter the Dragon in Singapore, he defeated Sasha Moisa via TKO, knocking down the Ukrainian 3 times in the third round, securing a win and advancing to the Grand Prix Semi-Finals.

In the Kickboxing Featherweight Grand Prix Semi-Finals, he was set to face Giorgio Petrosyan a second time at ONE Championship: Dreams of Gold in Bangkok. However, in his rematch with Petrosyan, Nattawut lost by knockout in the first round, getting eliminated from the Kickboxing Featherweight World Grand Prix.

Nattawut currently trains at his own gym, United Training Center, located in Atlanta, Georgia.

2021 ONE Kickboxing Featherweight World Grand Prix After two years away, Nattawut was scheduled to make his return against Yurik Davtyan in an alternate bout for the 2021 ONE Kickboxing Featherweight Grand Prix at ONE Championship: First Strike on October 15, 2021. However, the fight was removed from the card for undisclosed reasons. Nattawut's fight with Davtyan was eventually rescheduled for ONE Championship: NextGen II on November 12, 2021. Nattawut won by knockout in the first round.

He was originally set to face fellow Grand Prix alternate Dovydas Rimkus at ONE: Only the Brave on January 28, 2022. However, after Grand Prix semifinalist Marat Grigorian tested positive for COVID-19, Nattawut was rebooked to face Chingiz Allazov in the Grand Prix semifinals. Nattawut lost by first-round knockout.

Post Grand Prix Nattawut faced Jamal Yusupov under Muay Thai rules at ONE 159 on July 22, 2022. He lost by unanimous decision.

Nattawut faced Tawanchai P.K.Saenchai, replacing Superbon Singha Mawynn on October 7, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 15. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Nattawut was scheduled to face Niclas Larsen on December 9, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 17. However, Larsen withdrew from the bout due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Luke Lessei. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Nattawut faced Tawanchai P.K.Saenchai in a rematch, for the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship on June 7, 2024, at ONE 167. He lost the fight via majority decision.

Nattawut faced Superbon Singha Mawynn on September 27, 2024, at ONE Friday Fights 81. He lost the fight by a first-round knockout.

The trilogy bout between Nattawut and Tawanchai was scheduled on November 8, 2024, at ONE 169. However, the bout was removed from the event due to Nattawut injury after losing via knockout against Superbon at ONE Friday Fights 81.

Nattawut faced Bampara Kouyate on January 14, 2025, at ONE 170. He lost the fight via first round technical knockout.

Titles and accomplishments ONE Championship 2024: Ranked #5 Fight of the Year Lion Fight 2016 Lion Fight Middleweight Champion 2015 Lion Fight Super Welterweight Champion Five successful defenses

Fight record