Six-time ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon dazzled in his return to Muay Thai action this past weekend at ONE 169, but one thing was missing.
“The Iron Man” dispatched #3-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Jacob Smith in a rematch of their 2022 encounter, earning the unanimous decision win after five rounds of action on Saturday, 9th November.
However, the Thai great’s performance had a shadow cast upon it after he missed the championship weight beforehand and was stripped of the World Title, seeing his five-year reign come to an unceremonious end.
He and his fans were understandably disappointed, but Rodtang reassured everyone that he’d be king again soon.
“I feel sad that I lost that belt on the scale, but I will keep continuing and get that belt back,” he said.
“I will be returning to my throne soon.”
Regaining the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title is a top priority for the 27-year-old. But there are other things on his list, namely, a showdown with Japanese kickboxing sensation Takeru Segawa.
The striking pair butted heads at ONE 169, in a collision that almost sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Their names have been uttered in the same breath many times in the past year, and Rodatng believes now is the time to make the monumental bout happen.
“I want to face Takeru first,” he firmly stated.
“I almost [got into] another match right there in the ring. And I think that it’s time now that I have to face Takeru. And I hope that this is the fight that everybody has been expecting. And hopefully, Khun Chatri will give me this fight soon.”
