If ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon gets his way, his next fight could be under a different rule set. “The Iron Man” was involved in a blockbuster mixed rules bout against American MMA legend Demetrious Johnson at ONE X last year. The fight alternated between Muay Thai and MMA rule sets from round to round.
Ultimately, it was “Mighty Mouse” who prevailed by submission in the second round after a pulsating opening round of Muay Thai action. In the immediate aftermath of the fascinating encounter, Rodtang expressed his desire to continue to work on his grappling skills.
“I hope I will fight again [in MMA], and I will not give up on MMA,” he wrote on Instagram. “I feel so sad for this fight, but I will practice and come back to fight even stronger.”
Could Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs. Demetrious Johnson II be on the cards?
A recent Rodtang Jitmuangnon Instagram post has suggested that Rodtang vs. Johnson II is on the Thai superstar’s mind for his next fight.
The 26-year-old posted a video of the fight-ending sequence from their first encounter with a tantalizing caption.
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“My memories I want to try it one more time,” he wrote. Rodtang has been plying his trade under Muay Thai and kickboxing rules since the March 2022 match with “Mighty Mouse,” notching more defenses of the flyweight Muay Thai strap that he has held since 2019.
The Jitmuangnon Gym representative took part in one of the biggest fights in history at ONE Friday Fights 34 in September, when he took on compatriot and ONE Flyweight Kickboxing Worl Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 in a catchweight Muay Thai barnburner. Ultimately, it was Superlek who emerged victorious in a razor-thin decision victory after three rounds of bell-to-bell action. The fight drew critical acclaim from across the globe and left fans clamoring for a rematch.
Perhaps another foray into the world of mixed rules combat would appease Rodtang’s loyal fan base in the interim as they eagerly await news of his next fight.