"I have to accept the mistake" - Rodtang takes sole responsibility for missing weight, vows to reclaim vacant belt

Rodtang Jitmuangnon is taking accountability for being stripped of the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world championship ahead of his world title tilt with Jacob Smith at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. 'Reug Reug' this past Friday, Nov. 8. The event took place inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

'The Iron Man' addressed the unfortunate situation in an interview with ONE Championship:

"I have never been angry or hated by the media or any channels. I know that I have done something wrong, so I have to accept the mistake. But believe me, no one makes mistakes all their lives. Since this time, the answer is that I can't handle this weight, I have to adjust myself to a new path. But if one day I can control my weight down to flyweight, I will definitely come back to claim the throne.

Because Smith passed the pre-fight tests with no issues, he was the only one eligible to win the 135-pound Muay Thai crown at ONE 169. However, Rodtang dashed the United Kingdom star's hopes of winning 26 pounds of flyweight Muay Thai gold by systematically dissecting his defense to emerge with the unanimous decision victory.

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Jonathan Haggerty advises Rodtang to move up to bantamweight

ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion Jonathan Haggerty believes Rodtang should move up to the 145-pound Muay Thai division in light of his latest weight mishap.

'The General' stated in an interview with Sky Sports:

"At flyweight, I missed it a few times and it's at that point that you just have to tell yourself, 'let's move up.' And you never know, it might do him a world of good if he moves up a weight like it did for me. I went up there and done what I had to do."

Fans in the United States and Canada with an active Prime Video subscription can rewatch ONE 169 on demand.