Rodtang Jitmuangnon has carried the banner for Muay Thai as the sport’s biggest star. At ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug, he returns to defend the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title against familiar opposition. “The Iron Man” meets Jacob Smith as part of a stacked lineup in Bangkok on November 8.
Having competed against Smith already at ONE 157 in 2022, Rodtang knows what makes the Brit tough inside the ring. However, that also means the ONE Championship star knows where he will hold the edge once the bell rings. According to the 27-year-old, speed will be the ultimate difference on fight night.
“The best weapon for Jacob is his durability. His durability makes him a hard opponent for everyone. I think my speed will give me an advantage over him. In our first fight, I fought him with my speed and agility,” Rodtang remarked to ONE.
“The Iron Man” is confident, having already defeated Smith. However, this bout will be five rounds instead of the three-round bout they had in 2022. Still, Rodtang expects a quick start to give him an early edge against Smith.
“He’s still the same in terms of his style. It’s like his engine is slow to heat up. He thinks and acts a bit slow,” Rodtang said.
Despite Smith’s toughness, Rodtang is gunning for another knockout performance. However, that does not mean he will exhaust all his options to chase the finish. “The Iron Man” does not take the 32-year-old lightly, wanting to give fans another reason to cheer inside Lumpinee Stadium.
“I will do my best to knock him out. I wanted to knock him out because I wanted the bonus. But I can’t underestimate my opponent because Jacob Smith is tough and durable. With his strong physique, I can’t underestimate him,” the flyweight king stated.
Rodtang has struggled to be consistent with his weight in the past. In his last match, a kickboxing bout against Denis Puric, he came in overweight. Given that this is a match for his gold, Rodtang is making sure he is doing everything possible not to lose the title on the scale.
“I will do anything to make sure that I don’t make the same mistake again because if I make another mistake, the belt will slip out of my hands,” the Thai star said.
Although Rodtang wants to keep the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title, this match is even more important as he wants to continue the sport’s growth. The 27-year-old implored his fans to stand behind him at ONE 169 to continue that mission. Rodtang has been the standard bearer for Muay Thai’s ability to generate a global superstar, and he wants to deliver another chance to show why “the art of eight limbs” is the most exciting combat sport going today.
“I would like to leave a message for everyone: I will do my best for this fight. I want all the fans in Thailand to come to see this fight at the stadium or watch it on local TV. Everyone, please cheer me on. I want Muay Thai to reach an even greater level around the world. I am one person who will help promote Muay Thai as far as possible,” Rodtang commented.
ONE 169 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, November 8. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members in the U.S. and Canada.
