ONE CEO says Rodtang will be good to go for first on-ground U.S. event in Colorado

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong believes Rodtang Jitmuangnon will be good to go at the promotion’s first-ever live on-ground event in the United States in May. That's despite the Thai superstar recently catching the injury bug.

'The Iron Man' was originally set to compete in the headlining fight of the recently held ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video in Singapore against ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 in a title showdown. Injury from training, however, forced him to pull out late on fight week.

Rodtang will next see action on May 5 at ONE Fight Night 10 on Prime Video in the U.S., where he will defend the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title against Mexican Edgar Tabares.

In an interview with SCMP MMA, Chatri Sityodtong said he is not too worried about the champion’s availability for ONE’s landmark U.S. show as there is still time for him to recover and prepare.

Chatri Sityodtong said:

“I haven’t talked to Rodtang and his camp yet but obviously, I wish him well. I know he’s going to do a quick seminar tour. He hurt his lower back, so he wants to do a quick rest before the May 5th event. But he’s ready to go on May 5th [for Edgar Tabares] …”

Watch the interview below:

ONE Fight Night 10 will take place at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. It will be headlined by the trilogy fight between ONE flyweight world champion Demetrious Johnson and former division king Adriano Moraes.

At the event, 'The Iron Man' will try to defend his title against Mexican striker Tabares, who is making his promotional debut. He is Mexico’s first WBC Muay Thai International Champion and boasts an ultra-aggressive style that he will be banking on to counter the durability and power of the Thai champion.

ONE Fight Night 10 will be aired live and for free to all North American fans with an active Prime Video subscription.

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Chatri Sityodtong on Rodtang: “Rodtang is now the biggest global superstar that Muay Thai has ever seen”

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong considers Rodtang Jitmuangnon to be a true Muay Thai global superstar for the “total package” he brings to the sport.

In a post-fight interview following the successful defense of the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title of 'The Iron Man' against strawweight king Joseph Lasiri last November, the ONE executive highlighted that all indications point to the Thai champion already at the top of his sport. He also expects him to remain there for some time still.

Chatri Sityodtong said:

“There's no doubt that Rodtang is now the biggest global superstar that Muay Thai has ever seen in the history of the sport, full stop. If you look at his fighting style, his KO percentage. If you look at his charisma in and out of the cage, this guy is going to be huge. You watch him in the next two or three years, he's going to be truly, truly mainstream, global superstar and all over the world. This is what I predict. I mean, he has everything.”

Rodtang, who is set to return to action on May 5 in ONE’s first-ever United States live on-ground show, boasts a 13-1 record in the promotion since making his debut in 2018. As a champion, he has had four successful title defenses to date.