ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon will defend his gold at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug against a familiar foe.
On November 8, “The Iron Man” will see Jacob Smith standing across the ring from him in Bangkok, Thailand. The two first met during the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix in 2022, where Rodtang took home a unanimous decision victory.
Having already gone three rounds with Smith, Rodtang knows he is in for a tough match at ONE 169.
“The best weapon for Jacob is his durability. His durability makes him a hard opponent for everyone,” Rodtang told ONE.
“I think my speed will give me an advantage over him. In our first fight, I fought him with my speed and agility.”
Although Rodtang expects a stiff challenge, he is not too concerned with what the Brit brings into the battle.
“The Iron Man” expects nothing new from Smith once the bell rings.
“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,” the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion remarked.
Still, Rodtang will look to end the match early. The Thai star hopes to pick up another highlight-reel victory on the global stage and grab a few extra dollars in the process.
“I will do my best to knock him out. I wanted to knock him out because I wanted the bonus,” Rodtang stated.
“But I can’t underestimate my opponent because Jacob Smith is tough and durable. With his strong physique, I can’t underestimate him.”
Leading up to his latest title defense, Rodtang is making sure his weight is on point. The Jitmuangnon Gym star knows he could lose the title on the scale just as easily as he could in the ring.
“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,” Rodtang mentioned.
In front of a red-hot Bangkok crowd, Rodtang will hear deafening roars. “The Iron Man” wants to use this platform to keep growing the sport worldwide and deliver another unforgettable performance for the Lumpinee Stadium crowd.
“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,” the Thai star said.
“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.”
ONE 169 airs live and free on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT to all Amazon Prime members in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, November 8.