Rodtang expects exciting showdown with Superlek

Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon expects an exciting encounter when he challenges reigning ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 in a title showdown later this week in Singapore.

'The Iron Man' will attempt to become a two-sport ONE world champion in his headlining bout against 'The Kicking Machine' at ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video on March 24.

Rodtang, the division’s Muay Thai king, sees a tough stand by Superlek but he remains determined to see his title push through. He told ONE Championship in an interview:

“It will also remove an accusation that I am scared to fight with Superlek, too. Superlek must do anything to keep the belt on his waist. And I will do everything to take it from him.”

He continued:

“This fight will be explosive. One man wants it like hell and the other refuses to let it go. Let's see in whose hands the belt will be.”

'The Iron Man' is fighting in his second straight kickboxing match this year after plunging back into it last January against China’s Jiduo Yibu, where he won by unanimous decision.

After dominating the flyweight Muay Thai division, Rodtang is now on a mission to expand his domain to other combat sports, particularly kickboxing and mixed martial arts.

All ONE Fight Night events are broadcast live and for free in North America via Prime Video.

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“I think it definitely makes sense” - ONE CEO says Rodtang vs Superlek is the fight to make

Even before their title showdown was broached, ONE Championship was already interested in pitting Thai superstars Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Superlek Kiatmoo9 against each other in the Circle.

No less than ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong made this known in an interview with SCMP MMA earlier this year, saying that such a contest “makes sense.”

At the time, ONE was still considering its options on how to go about it, particularly whether it would be for Rodtang’s flyweight Muay Thai world title or for the kickboxing gold held by Superlek. Still another was the fighters’ possible participation in the planned Openweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix later this year:

"Yeah, I think it [fight] definitely makes sense. Of course, right now we are trying to figure out who the 16 athletes are for the Openweight [Muay Thai World Grand Prix]. So that obviously, of course we want [the two] to fight whether it’s for the Muay Thai title or for the kickboxing title."

He added:

"Are one of those guys or both of those guys gonna be in the openweight Grand Prix? I don’t know yet."

Check out the video below for the full interview:

It was eventually agreed upon that the clash between the two world-class fighters will be for Superlek’s ONE flyweight kickboxing world title happening on March 24 at ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video in Singapore.

Both fighters have expressed their excitement and readiness to mix it up come fight night and give fight fans what they have long been waiting for.