The Muay Thai showdown everyone has been waiting for is finally set to happen. ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon will defend his belt against kickboxing king Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE Friday Fights 34 on September 22, according to ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong’s social media post this past weekend.
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“BREAKING NEWS: Get ready for RODTANG vs SUPERLEK on 9/22 at Lumpinee Stadium for the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship! LET’S GOOOOO!!!” Sityodtong wrote in the caption.
The Superlek Kiatmoo9 vs Rodtang Jitmuangnon has been called off multiple times
Fans have been eager to see how a matchup between two of the best flyweight strikers in the world today would go down, and they’ve had to wait some time for it. It looked like Rodtang and Superlek were on track for a collision in the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix in 2022, but the former was unable to compete in the semifinals of the illustrious tournament due to weight and hydration issues.
Superlek went all the way to the final round of the tournament, but both he and opponent Panpayak Jitmuangnon failed to make the flyweight limit ahead of their tussle, so neither was eligible to claim the prestigious belt and a guaranteed shot at “The Iron Man’s” gold as a result. However, “The Kicking Machine” quickly redeemed himself by winning the vacant ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title in his next match – a belt Rodtang has been chasing.
They were set to clash for the kickboxing throne earlier this year, but “The Iron Man” was forced out of the contest due to injury. With both fighters sitting as top contenders for the other’s World Title, though, it was only a matter of time before one of them cashed in on their golden opportunity. Their monumental clash in September will be Superlek’s fifth fight this year, and he will be looking to win his seventh straight Muay Thai contest in ONE.
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The superb Muay Thai prowess of the two guarantees an enthralling bout
Meanwhile, Rodtang will figure in his third match this year, having won a kickboxing bout and put in a fifth successful defense of his crown already in 2023. He will most certainly plan to continue his reign of dominance in his division and extend his unbeaten run of 14 wins in the striking ranks of the world’s largest martial arts organization.
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Both men are in arguably the best forms of their careers, and they will no doubt put on another legendary fight inside the hallowed halls of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on September 22.