Rodtang Jitmuangnon shows his underrated defensive movement against Fahdi Khaled

ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon showcased his greatness in front of a US crowd for the first time at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III on Prime Video.

On May 5, in front of a sold-out crowd in Denver, Colorado, the feared 'Iron Man' defended his world title by dismantling Mexico's Edgar Tabares. Jitmuangnon impressed American viewers by showcasing the highest level of Muay Thai, from lockdown defense to aggressive offense. He did so by starching Tabares with a picture-perfect elbow coming off of a well-timed block.

After blocking Tabares' spinning elbow, Rodtang connected with a fight-ending elbow strike of his own. It was an incredible display of fight IQ by the veteran of over 300 professional fights.

Another fight that showcased Jitmuangon's underrated defensive genius was his 2019 unanimous decision win over Tunisian striker Fahdi Khaled. One notable instance in the fight was when Khaled, similar to Tabares, threw a spinning elbow attack which Rodtang saw coming a mile away.

ONE Championship posted a video of Rodtang Jitmuangnon's marvelous defensive skills on Instagram:

"Blocked it 💪 Can anybody get to Rodtang? 🤔 @rodtang_jimungnon"

This goes to show that you should never attempt a spinning attack on Rodtang unless you're willing to risk the possibility of landing on your backside. His win over Tabares won the world champion a $100,000 double-bonus from ONE Championship and solidified his place as one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters of his generation.

Following the match, the Thai superstar revealed his desire to lock horns once again with the new ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion, Jonathan Haggerty. Rodtang Jitmuangnon has two victories over 'The General' and is apparently eager to get a third one. Perhaps he also wants to win a second world title in a second weight class.

The historic ONE Fight Night 10 event replay can be viewed for free via Amazon Prime in North America.