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Welcome to today's edition of the daily Sportskeeda ONE Championship News Roundup, where we present the promotion's most important stories.
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Today we’ll discuss the three people that influenced Janet Todd, Itsuki Hirata setting her sights on Xiong Jing Nan, and Danial Williams stepping in after Rodtang Jitmuangnon pulled out of ONE Fight Night 8’s main event.
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#3 The women fighters who inspired Janet Todd
Double-world champion Janet Todd is one of the best strikers of her generation, but she wouldn’t have reached the heights she’s on now if not for three women who greatly influenced her.
Todd is the reigning ONE atomweight kickboxing and interim atomweight Muay Thai world champion and is now seen as a trailblazer in her own right.
In an interview with ONE Championship, the American striker revealed that Miriam Nakamoto, Tiffany van Soeset, and Gina Carano were the athletes whom she felt paved the way for her other female fighters.
“Tiffany van Soest. There's Miriam Nakamoto that actually put American Muay Thai on the map for us and really led the way for Tiffany and me and Jackie. So, yeah, those are just a bunch. Gina Carano too. There's a bunch of women that have really helped us get to the world stage today. I'm thankful for them to preset the path for us.”
Todd will take that inspiration to heart when she faces ONE atomweight Muay Thai world champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues in a world title unification match at ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video.
The card is set for March 24, US primetime, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and will be broadcast live and for free to all Prime Video subscribers in North America.
#2 Itsuki Hirata has her sights on fighting Xiong Jing Nan one day
Itsuki Hirata may be making a name in the atomweight division, but she didn’t rule out a possible move to strawweight in the future.
The Japanese star is set to face no.2-ranked atomweight contender Ham Seo Hee at ONE Fight Night 8 in a match that is sure to shake up the division’s hierarchy.
Though she still has a lot left to prove in the 115-pound division, Hirata admitted that she’d likely move up a division and even challenge ONE women’s strawweight world champion Xiong Jing Nan.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Hirata said:
“Although there may be more fighters in the atomweight division, the value of the strawweight championship belt will not decrease. I really respect Xiong Jing Nan as the champion, and I thought it would be good to aim for that.
“The value of the belt is not affected. Xiong Jing Nan was stronger than Angela Lee, so I think the value of the belt remains high.”
#1 Rodtang replaced by Danial Williams to fight Superlek for flyweight kickboxing gold
ONE Fight Night 8 just got a major change.
ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon pulled out of his world title fight against ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 due to injury.
Stepping into the main event scene is Danial Williams.
The Australian-Thai fighter will be in his first world title fight at ONE Championship, while Rui Botelho, his original opponent, is also getting new opposition.
The promotion announced the news on its Instagram page.
“With Rodtang out due to injury, ‘Mini T' Danial Williams steps in on short notice to face Superlek for the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title in the main event of ONE Fight Night 8 💥🥊.”
Botelho will now take on Aslanbek Zikreev of Russia in a catchweight Muay Thai bout.
ONE Fight Night 8 is ONE Championship’s third Amazon card of the year and will be broadcast live and for free to all Prime Video subscribers in North America.
