Just one day remains before ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Jo Nattawut! The event takes place at Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on June 7th. A highly-anticipated matchup hit a bit of a snag. 

Current ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon, was scheduled to face the #2 ranked Muay Thai contender, Denis Puric, in a flyweight kickboxing bout, but failed the weight and hydration requirements for his scheduled fight.

“The Iron Man” last fought at ONE Friday Fights 34, losing his first Muay Thai match in ONE Championship at the hands of kickboxing king Superlek Kiatmoo9. He was scheduled to fight Japanese star Takeru Segawa earlier this year but suffered an injury that delayed his return to action. 

However, during the official weigh-ins for his upcoming match with Puric, he initially failed the hydration test and weighed 138.5 pounds – three and a half pounds more than the 135-pound flyweight limit.  It was later revealed that Rodtang passed the hydration test, but weighed in at a whopping 141.25 pounds – which is closer to the bantamweight limit of 145 than flyweight. 

No official word has come out regarding the status of the match, but with Puric passing the weight and hydration test with ease, he can ask for a minimum of 25 percent of Rodtang’s fight purse and accept a catchweight kickboxing bout instead. ONE Championship’s official Instagram account shared a dramatic reel featuring Rodtang’s failed weight and hydration tests during the official weigh-ins.

The reel quickly went viral, sparking fan reaction worldwide. Some fans called for stricter penalties for fighters who consistently miss weight, while others offered their opinions on the issue of weight cutting in combat sports. 

Undoubtedly, this news is a setback for the organization. Following Stamp Fairtex’s injury, Rodtang’s weight-cutting struggles add another layer of chaos to the upcoming event. Social is abuzz with commentary, ranging from concerned discussions to humorous takes on the situation.

Fans react to Rodtang Jitmuangnon missing weight and failing hydration tests

Fans were eagerly anticipating seeing their Thai Champ inside the Circle. However, Rodtang’s weight-cutting mishap has likely left them feeling disappointed, as evidenced by social media comments. One disgruntled fan expressed their frustration, stating, “Rodtang didn’t even try to make weight.” Another echoed the sentiment, commenting, “Come on Rodtang, why cut the weight properly?” These comments highlight the disappointment of many fans towards Rodtang’s situation.

The uncertainty surrounding the fight’s status also fueled fan discussion. Some fans questioned if the fight would happen at all, with one comment asking, “So the fight is not happening or?”

Calls for stricter penalties against Rodtang were also prevalent. One fan commented, “Punish him. How do you lose weight when you don’t even have to cut, just diet….” Another suggested a financial deterrent, saying, “How did I know? At this point, @onechampionship should start fining athletes.”

The general fan sentiment, however, leaned towards disappointment with the Thai Champ, similar to the reaction following ONE Friday Night 34 when Superlek was criticized for weight-cutting issues in his fight against Rodtang. Now, the focus shifts to Denis Puric’s response. Will he agree to fight at catchweight to salvage the matchup? Stay tuned for further updates.