Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon has re-committed himself to the promotion that made him a global phenomenon, and the timing could not be more significant.
The former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion has produced some of the most electric wars fans have ever witnessed, a big part of that coming down to his forward-marching, never-back-down style that has captured the attention of millions worldwide.
Add in a seemingly indestructible chin that lets him walk through fire while landing his own haymakers, and it becomes clear why “The Iron Man” couldn’t be a more apt moniker for the Thai megastar.
Across 20 appearances under the promotional banner, he has featured in Muay Thai, kickboxing, and even a mixed-rules super-fight against ONE Hall of Famer and MMA GOAT Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.
Now, at 29 years old and officially back in the fold, the matchmaking possibilities are endless for the 274-win veteran. Here are five fighters who could be next in line to share the global stage with him.
#1 Aslamjon Ortikov
Rodtang’s fan-friendly approach – constantly inviting opponents to trade with him in the pocket – makes for a fascinating contrast against one of the division’s trickiest striking wizards in Aslamjon “El Pantera” Ortikov.
The Uzbekistani slugger has been nothing short of spectacular since arriving on the global stage, and a fight of this magnitude for the Thai is exactly the kind of clash of styles that would set him abuzz.
Few fighters possess his combination of volume, power, and sheer refusal to back down, and a win over a live threat like Ortikov would instantly reestablish him as the measuring stick every contender in the division has to answer to.
Ortikov, meanwhile, is fired up to return to winning ways after suffering his first loss in a bid for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title, falling just short against newly crowned king Asadula “The Dagestan Ninja” Imangazaliev in the main event of The Inner Circle 20 last month.
#2 Superlek
Fight fans have spent years hoping for a sequel between Rodtang and ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek after the instant classic the two produced in their first meeting. What better time to do it than now, with Rodtang inking a new deal with the promotion and Superlek eager to rediscover his winning groove.
That first showdown at ONE Friday Fights 34 delivered exactly what a matchup between two pound-for-pound greats should. That evening, Superlek walked away with a hard-fought unanimous decision in the biggest Muay Thai fight in years.
Another matchup between the two striking geniuses would carry every bit as much weight today. “The Iron Man” will be out for revenge while his fellow Thai, who was once considered nearly untouchable, is eager to rebound after three successive losses in the organization.
Beyond the personal stakes, a sequel would once again pit two fearless and highly technical strikers, the exact stylistic battle that made their first encounter one for the ages. Nine minutes of pure excellence made the first meeting nearly impossible to score, and there is no reason to expect a sequel would be any different.
#3 Nong-O Hama
Few rivalries blend mutual respect with must-see action quite like Rodtang and former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama. The two were set to lock horns late last year, but the fight never came together, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.
Since then, Nong-O has continued to prove he remains every bit the force he always was. His surgical striking and unmatched fight IQ remain a puzzle few opponents have ever solved. Rodtang, meanwhile, offers something no one else in the division can. His suffocating forward pressure and volume of attacks would drag even a legend of Nong-O’s caliber into the kind of chaotic trenches that have troubled him in the past.
It is precisely that contrast, veteran precision against relentless aggression, that made the original booking one of the most anticipated fights in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
With Nong-O still chasing another historic ONE World Title reign, and “The Iron Man’s” future now settled, the pieces are already in place for this all-Thai classic to get underway in the near future.
#4 Takeru Segawa
If Rodtang wants the ultimate return fight, he does not have to look far. The Thai megastar and Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa have already given fans two unforgettable kickboxing barnburners. A third will undoubtedly be another thriller.
In their first clash, “The Iron Man” produced one of the most stunning finishes of his career, blitzing the Japanese icon in just 80 seconds at ONE 172. The sequel at ONE SAMURAI 1, meanwhile, saw Takeru put the Jitmuangnon Gym man to sleep in round five to claim the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title and cap off his career on the highest note possible.
More recently, the two shared a respectful moment inside the ring during the live broadcast of The Inner Circle 22. That evening, Takeru hinted that he might leave the door open to a possible return. And with Rodtang now back under contract, the storyline practically writes itself.
A trilogy between these two would not just settle the rivalry once and for all; it would also give fans the chance to see two of the sport’s most beloved icons share the ring one final time, this time with nothing left unsaid between them.
#5 Yuki Yoza
Fans have been clamoring for a matchup between Yuki Yoza and “The Iron Man” for some time now, and there is no reason to keep them waiting any longer.
Yoza has steadily built one of the most impressive runs since joining ONE Championship, extending his unbeaten surge to six years, which only came to an end against Rodtang’s longtime nemesis, reigning ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty, at ONE SAMURAI 1 this past April.
Where Yoza thrives on distance and timing, Rodtang lives to close it, marching forward behind heavy hands and an iron chin that has broken the will of far more experienced strikers.
Beyond the pure stylistic intrigue, both men would walk away with plenty to gain. A win would give Yoza another marquee name to add to his growing list of scalps, while the Jitmuangnon Gym man would relish the chance to prove he can still hang with the very best as he works his way back toward the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title.
