Why Superlek will beat Rodtang when they finally meet inside the ONE Circle

A kickboxing superfight of epic proportions was scheduled to go down between Thai megastars Superlek Kiatmoo9 and Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE Fight Night 8 last weekend.

Unfortunately, the injury bug intervened and cost us a striking showdown of the highest order after Rodtang had to pull out due to a lower back injury.

Being the consummate professional that he is, Superlek did what he set out to do and successfully defended his ONE flyweight kickboxing world title against late replacement Danial Williams.

‘The Kicking Machine’ also did it in style, outclassing ‘Mini T’ for two and a half rounds before finishing him off in spectacular fashion in round 3.

As amazing as that fight was, the public clamor for Superlek and Rodtang’s long-overdue clash only grew.

The two are the best flyweight strikers in the world today, and it’s only fitting that they face one another at the height of their respective careers.

Regardless of whether it will be under Muay Thai or kickboxing rules, this is a fight everyone wants to see.

Rodtang, of course, is the more popular of the two after amassing a massive cult following for his extremely fan-friendly style.

Still, if there’s a fighter capable of removing ‘The Iron Man’s cloak of invincibility inside the Circle, it’s definitely his compatriot Superlek.

Superlek has all the necessary tools to solve Rodtang’s puzzle

Rodtang Jitmuangnon has governed the flyweight Muay Thai division with an iron fist, winning all 13 of his striking matches under the promotion.

The 25-year-old was deemed the favorite by most pundits in his supposed encounter with Superlek.

The Jitmuangnon Gym standout has practically laid waste to everyone in his wake, so it’s hard to side against the Thai wrecking machine.

Then again, Superlek is unlike any other fighter he has ever faced before.

For one, the 27-year-old is as cerebral as they come. The flyweight kickboxing ruler’s fight IQ is truly above and beyond his peers, displaying the ability to adjust his game plan mid-fight.

Given his godly timing and insane reflexes, Superlek is a master of the mid-range and loves to pick his opponents apart from distance with piercing jabs, straights, and kicks.

He implored a similar game plan to Rodtang’s Jitmuangnon Gym teammate Panpayak to end their rivalry last year.

Additionally, Superlek is also too smart to get goaded into a slugfest with Rodtang, which usually spells doom for his opponents in the past.

Even former flyweight Muay Thai world champion Jonathan Haggerty recently admitted he wasn’t meant to fall into a war with Rodtang, but somehow played right into his trap.

Rodtang simply thrives in chaos, which Superlek is already well aware of by now.

In the event that ‘The Kicking Machine’ breaks character and tries to stand and bang with ‘The Iron Man’, Superlek is not at a total disadvantage either.

For one, Superlek is clearly the more technical fighter between the two and can dish out damage without leaving himself open for counterattacks.

On the other hand, we’ve seen Rodtang get carried away in the past with wild hooks and telegraphed overhand rights, which makes him an easy target for an elite counter striker like Superlek.

While Rodtang has also evolved and is no longer the mindless terminator hellbent on destruction, Superlek is the more complete fighter who possesses a deeper mastery of “The Art of Eight Limbs”.

At the end of the day, talk is cheap and the only way to settle this debate is for these two to finally square off inside the Circle.

Let’s hope the fighting gods hear our plea and turn this dream fight into reality sometime this year.