The third fight between Muay Thai star Buakaw Banchamek and Kung Fu practitioner Yi Long appears to be cancelled. Their highly teased ultimate encounter was scheduled for October 8 in Hong Kong, yet according to a recent post on Facebook the contest fell off.

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As understood, the Chinese fighter cited back injury, which forced him to withdraw. In addition, Yi Long outlined his friendship with Buakaw, therefore would rather “not punch each other’s faces for the third time”.

The pair first met mid 2015 in Jiyuan, China where Buakaw scored a three-round unanimous decision in kickboxing bout. The second encounter in November 2016 in Nanjing, China ended in favor of Yi Long, who took the revenge also by decision.

Their third fight was expected to see a one by nine minute round with the athletes required to score a knockout wearing 5 OZ glove. However, the trilogy appears to no longer happening.

#Buakaw Banchamek and Yi Long are scheduled for a trilogy fight ? New date set ?? https://t.co/CsYKJkCrRp — FIGHTMAG (@fightmag) May 29, 2019

Over the course of his career Buakaw Banchamek twice won K-1 World MAX Grand Prix, as well as a number of world titles. His resume includes the victories against Dzhabar Askerov, John Wayne Parr, Andy Souwer, among others.

In his previous outing in March he claimed a unanimous decision against Artem Pashporin. Riding the six-fight win streak, “White Lotus” is expected to face a replacement opponent.

More information is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.