ONE Championship followers had been disillusioned in January when one of the anticipated bouts of the 12 months; a conflict between Muay Thai legend, “The Iron Man,” Rodtang Jitmuangnon, and Japanese Kickboxing phenomenon, Takeru Segawa, at ONE 165 in Tokyo fell aside simply shy of the end line.
Rodtang suffered an arm harm and needed to pull out of the bout, and although a Featherweight Kickboxing title conflict between Takeru and Superlek Kiatmoo9 served as an exhilarating substitute for the cardboard’s foremost occasion, followers haven’t forgotten concerning the promised conflict between the hanging titans.
A number of days in the past, ONE Championship CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, revitalised the hopes of ONE’s international fanbase by saying that the long-awaited conflict was again on the playing cards however stopped in need of making the bout official.
“They’ve agreed to the battle already – we now have a date, we now have a venue, we’re simply not saying it but,” stated Chatri, “If Takeru wins on Friday and Rodtang wins his subsequent battle, one hundred pc they’re combating.”
Even the celebrities themselves have continued to construct hype across the battle with their on-line antics. In a current interview concerning the potential bout with Takeru, Rodtang stated, “I’m right here ready. I’m able to go, any time.”
In fact, Takeru has simply gained his newest bout, knocking out Thant Zin within the second spherical of their conflict at Friday Fights 81. Rodtang was on the stadium in attendance, taking notes on his potential adversary, and even met the Japanese star within the ring after his victory to let him know he was recreation for the battle. An announcement to which Takeru merely replied,
“Rodtang, I’m prepared. Let’s battle.”
On condition that this appears to be the battle that everybody, from Chatri to the fighters and followers need to see, we’re going to take the subsequent few paragraphs to take a position on what the bout will seem like and whether or not or not followers can count on a high-octane KO end when it lastly happens.
Muay Thai Or Kickboxing
Everybody is aware of Rodtang because the reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai and former Omnoi Stadium Champion. The web is abuzz along with his spotlight reel antics within the 4oz gloves, however he has additionally fought beneath kickboxing guidelines and lately defeated ONE #2 ranked Muay Thai contender, Denis Puric, within the boxing-styled gloves.
In contrast to his multi-sport opponent, Takeru is strictly a kickboxer and all of his bouts on ONE have been beneath the kickboxing ruleset. So, it’s secure to imagine this inevitable conflict will probably be fought beneath Takeru’s most popular ruleset, in larger gloves, and with out the Muay Thai clinch or elbows.
What Do The Stats Say?
Within the ring, something can occur. Typically all it takes is a single shot, in the fitting place, to place even essentially the most elite fighter to sleep on the canvas, and generally, they’ll put on each single one in every of their opponent’s strongest strikes and proceed marching ahead. However, with that being stated, we will take a look at the types and up to date data of each Takeru and Rodtang to make some predictions on how their bout might take form.
Rodtang is a reigning tour-de-force on the ONE roster who has solely misplaced as soon as beneath kickboxing and Muay Thai guidelines in his 17 exhilarating bouts on the promotion. He’s gone toe-to-toe with among the greatest names in fight sports activities together with some insane bouts towards Australian, Danial Williams, and Englishman, Jacob Smith. He fought toe-to-toe for many of those fights and hardly appeared bothered by their strongest assaults. Though he was defeated by Superlek of their action-packed bout late final 12 months, “The Kicking Machine’s” 5lb weight benefit didn’t give him the sting he wanted to complete “The Iron Man.” So, it’s secure to say that Rodtang doesn’t go down simply.
Nonetheless, regardless of being one of the prolific Muay Mat’s since Anuwat Kaewsamrit and delivering among the most spectacular bouts in ONE historical past, Rodtang isn’t an enormous KO artist. Solely two of his final fifteen wins have come from stoppages and people had been towards Jonathan Haggerty, whom he stopped with physique photographs, and Edgar Tobares, whom he flattened with a second-round elbow.
Alternatively, Takeru Segawa is understood for his fast-paced, aggressive stoppages, most of which come from his palms. The Japanese star has gained over half of his fights by KO. Eight of his final ten wins have come by means of stoppage and all however one have come by his quick and highly effective palms.
Studying the statistics, it will appear that if there’s a stoppage on this bout, it’ll come from the Japanese star’s arsenal however, that being stated, each fighters use totally different types, so we’ll must look somewhat deeper earlier than we shut the guide on our predictions.
A Conflict Of Kinds
Merely put, Rodtang is just not your common fighter. He rose to stardom off the again of on-line reels the place he shook off his opponent’s strongest punches with amusing and a smile. Even when he was dropped by the heavier, Superlek’s elbow, he bounced straight to his ft, and plenty of felt that he was unfortunate to get given a depend. So despite the fact that Takeru is understood for creating stirring knockouts, he’s dealing with a person who’s seemingly impervious to them.
Rodtang’s model, which includes probing an opponent with punches, studying their responses, and punishing them as they enter his efficient vary, appears to be the proper antidote for Takeru’s high-paced, ahead aggression.
In his debut towards Superlek, “The Kicking Machine,” was in a position to disrupt all of Takeru’s ahead momentum with crushing low kicks. Rodtang has been famous to cease his opponent’s aggression in its tracks with teeps and leg kicks of his personal. So, contemplating the Thai was on the ringside to observe Takeru’s newest battle, it’s nearly sure that he’s watched his bout with Superlek and brought notice of his fellow countryman’s keys to victory.
It also needs to be thought-about that Takeru limped his method by most of his bout with Superlek and was dropped by Thant Zin’s palms within the first spherical of his bout final weekend. Though the stats say predict he would almost certainly be capable of safe a knockout victory on this bout, he’s not proof against being damage himself. An opponent as elite and resilient as Rodtang may climate Takeru’s storming palms and summon an electrifying knockout of his personal.
In Abstract
The extremely anticipated bout between Takeru and Rodtang has been brewing for properly over a 12 months. Latest interviews with the celebrities and ONE Championship’s CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, in addition to the post-fight antics at Friday Fights 81 appear to point that this bout will probably be again on the playing cards quickly.
It appears logical for the bout to be fought beneath Kickboxing guidelines however past that, all we will do is speculate on how this electrifying battle will take form.
Takeru is a knockout artist with unimaginable palms however his opponent Rodtang, appears nearly impervious to wreck within the ONE enviornment. So, whereas the Japanese star appears the almost certainly to create a KO end if there’s one, he wants to recollect, that he’s combating Rodtang, and “The Iron Man” is just not identified for happening simply.
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