Shir Cohen is prepared for the most significant fight of her career, which could change her life forever. The young Israeli fighter will face long-reigning champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues for the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE Fight Night 32 on June 6, 2024. This highly anticipated event will take place in the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and will air during U.S. primetime on Prime Video.
Cohen, 24, initially planned to compete for the title earlier in March but had to withdraw due to an ankle injury suffered while training. Reflecting on her journey, she shared with onefc.com, “Life has been very complex since then. In the last seven months, I’ve been injured. I’ve been recovering. I’ve been dealing with some challenges back home in Israel with my family. So many things happened, and I think this was one of the hardest times of my life.”
Despite these challenges, Cohen has emerged as a bright talent in the sport since joining ONE Championship. She earned her spot on the main roster after winning the competitive Road to ONE: Thailand tournament. Following that victory, Cohen secured three impressive wins in ONE Championship, showcasing her skill and determination in the ring.
In her last fight, she achieved a sensational upset against the experienced Scottish fighter Amy Pirnie. With that victory, Cohen enters this title match brimming with confidence. She acknowledged that she expected to have more fights before getting a title shot but mentally prepared herself for the challenge of battling for the championship. “At first, I thought that there’s gonna be maybe more fights. But I was also ready for a championship fight in my mind,” Cohen stated.
Now, Cohen shifts her focus to Rodrigues, who has maintained an impressive winning streak in the atomweight division for over five years. Although Cohen has a strong background in kickboxing, she has been honing her Muay Thai skills at the renowned Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, Thailand. Understanding the caliber of her opponent, she offered praise for Rodrigues, recognizing her technical proficiency and experience in Muay Thai. “Rodrigues is very technical and very smart, and her Muay Thai weapons are very good. She’s very experienced as well. She is more experienced than me, especially under Muay Thai rules,” she said.
Adding an emotional layer to her fight, Cohen trains closely with former THREE-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex, who lost the atomweight Muay Thai title to Rodrigues in 2020. This connection adds motivation for Cohen as she prepares to bring the championship back to her team at Fairtex. “I don’t feel pressure. It gives me more motivation because if I can get this for Stamp and for the team, I will feel proud of myself,” Cohen explained.
If successful against Rodrigues, Shir Cohen will become the first-ever Israeli ONE World Champion. Despite the high stakes, her focus remains on winning. Known for her striking skills, nimble footwork, and conditioning, Cohen plans to leverage her strengths to counter Rodrigues’ powerful clinch and elbow strikes. “My footwork and my boxing [are my biggest advantages]. I will try to use them. I want to win. It doesn’t matter how or what way. I will just see when we’re in there,” she stated.
Cohen’s determination and hard work reflect her mantra: “I’m not different than other fighters. I’m not special, but I just work hard, and I give my heart and try my best. I have a big goal inside of me, and I have to achieve this goal. I have to.” With the world title on the line, this matchup promises to be a thrilling contest, showcasing the best of Muay Thai skill and ambition.
