ONE 169: Atlanta on U.S. primetime of Friday, November 8 is set to be one of the biggest events of the year and the fans are super excited about it. Some of the elite fighters in the promotion will lock horns against each other, including a Thai megastar Rodtang Jitmuangnon. “The Iron Man” will be defending his ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title against #3-ranked contender Jacob Smith. 

The pair met previously at ONE 157, and Smith seemed to be surprised by the way Rodtang approached the fight. During a recent interview with Sportskeeda, Smith appreciated the champion and said, “He was very calculated. He was judging the distance well, and that was very good, which all of this, I know now.” However, the 31-year-old is confident that the result will be different this time around, saying: “Now, I’ve got four fights in ONE Championship, four fights at that level. And yeah, I feel this time around, it’s gonna be a lot different.” But why was the Brit surprised in their previous clash? Let us find out. 

Rodtang Jitmuangnon surprised Jacob Smith at ONE 157

Jacob Smith had a tall task in his promotional debut when he took on ‘The Iron Man’ in the Flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix Quarterfinal. Rodtang was a rare type of fighter who could absorb shots like no other man can. On most occasions, the Thai megastar walks straight into his opponents without worrying about the outcome. However, this was not the case when he took on Jacob Smith at ONE 157. 

Rodtang came in with a more technical approach in their fight, being more calculated than blindly aggressive like his reputation. From landing his combinations with methodical precision to using his elite footwork, Rodtang displayed all the skills that brought him to the top of the Muay Thai world. After three rounds, Smith succumbed to the pressure of the Thai and his bloodied-up face said it all. Many believe that this was one of Rodtang’s best performances as he walked off with a unanimous decision victory. 

Smith will now have the opportunity to avenge his previous loss when he takes on Rodtang next. Despite dropping a close fight in his latest outing, the 31-year-old is confident that he can bring out his best at ONE 169: Atlanta. 

Jacob Smith promises fans better performance at ONE 169: Denver  

Jacob Smith was last seen at ONE Fight Night 21 when he took on Denis Puric in a highly exciting clash. The 31-year-old walked into the clash high on confidence after he defeated Walter Goncalves via a knockout. However, the Brit failed to keep his winning momentum going as he failed to overcome Puric in a closely contested bout. Smith will now face the champion next, who defeated the same opponent at ONE 167 in a kickboxing bout. 

Smith recently sat down for an interview with The South China Morning Post and shared his honest opinion about the clash. The 31-year-old promised a better performance this time round and said, “The fans can expect everything I usually bring but with a lot more skill and a lot better fight IQ.” The Brit is not leaving any stones unturned this time around and is honing his skills at Bad Company Gym in the UK. One of his training partners is Liam Harrison, who knows a bit about beating Thai fighters. Will his guidance help Jacob Smith win the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World title? 

Who do you think will win the fight at ONE 169: Denver? Let us know about it in the comments below.