“I can make it in the heavier weight” - Rodtang confident he can hang with bigger opponents in possible bantamweight shift

Rodtang is confident he can hold his own in the bantamweight division.

Hours before he was scheduled to defend the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world championship—a belt he's held since 2019—'The Iron Man' was stripped of his strap after failing to meet the weight and hydration requirements for his rematch with Jacob Smith at ONE 169.

It was an unfortunate turn of events, but not a surprising one. After all, Rodtang has struggled to make the flyweight limit on several occasions. However, this time it cost him more than a percentage of his fight purse.

Following his dominant performance against the Brit at ONE 169, 'The Iron Man' made it clear that if a move up to bantamweight is in his future, he'll fair just fine against a new crop of heavier opponents:

"I can make it in the heavier weight. I used to fight in traditional Muay Thai rules in five rounds. I used to carry 10 kilos [more] before so it depends on the future."

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Rodtang ready to take on all comers when he returns to the Circle

Despite losing his title on the scale, Rodtang is still one of the most sought-after fights in all of ONE Championship with a slew of potential challengers lining up to test themselves against 'The Iron Man.'

Asked about what comes next, the Thai sensation plans to leave the decision-making up to ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong but acknowledged that there is no shortage of available options:

"Up to Chatri [Stiyodtong]. However, I see there are so many people who want to fight me. I can fight anyone. I don’t really have a name right now."

If Rodtang does move up to bantamweight, he could find himself with an assortment of options, including top-ranked contender Nico Carrillo, a trilogy bout with ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion Jonathan Haggerty, or even a rematch with two-sport king Superlek Kiatmoo9.

Then there's the long-awaited showdown with K-1 kickboxing legend Takeru Segawa—a fight that everyone has been chomping at the bit to see for years.

Who do you want to see Rodtang square off with when he returns to the Circle?

If you missed any of the action, ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch the ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug replay on demand via Amazon Prime Video.