Rodtang Jitmuangnon Re-signs with ONE Championship Following Title Stripping and Kickboxing Defeat
The announcement was made at a press conference in Nonthaburi, Thailand, marking the end of a period defined by weight management failures and cross-discipline competition.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon has officially re-signed with ONE Championship, ending a period of uncertainty following his removal from the flyweight Muay Thai division. The agreement was confirmed at a press conference held at Jitmuangnon Gym in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on the fighter’s birthday. The event was attended by Jitmuangnon, his manager Sorapong Jitsuntorn, ONE Championship Thailand President Jitinat Asdamongkol, and gym owners Somjit Waenkaew and Suntaree Lohaphak.
The re-signing concludes a chapter marked by significant regulatory and competitive challenges. Jitmuangnon was stripped of the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title in 2024 after failing to make weight and pass hydration tests ahead of a scheduled defence against Jacob Smith. This administrative failure terminated a reign characterised by multiple successful defences against top-tier challengers since he first claimed the belt by defeating Jonathan Haggerty in 2019.
Following the title stripping, Jitmuangnon expanded his competitive scope into kickboxing, a move that tested his versatility against elite opponents in the discipline. His first high-profile bout in the format came at ONE 172 in March 2025, where he secured a rapid 80-second victory over Japanese kickboxer Takeru Segawa. The win was widely interpreted as a statement of his striking capability beyond traditional Muay Thai rules.
However, the momentum shifted in a subsequent engagement. Earlier this year, Segawa defeated Jitmuangnon in the fifth round at ONE SAMURAI 1, claiming the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title. The loss underscored the physical toll of competing across disciplines and highlighted the competitive depth of the kickboxing division within the organisation.
Despite the recent setback and the previous regulatory breach, Jitmuangnon expressed a clear intent to continue his career within the ONE Championship framework. He stated that no other profession had provided him with the recognition or financial stability to support his family, affirming his commitment to compete until he no longer possesses the physical capacity to fight.
The return to the organisation where he made his high-profile promotional debut in 2018 signals a restoration of his primary institutional affiliation. While his status in the Muay Thai division remains open following the 2024 stripping, the new deal re-establishes his position within the world’s largest martial arts organisation, allowing him to pursue further opportunities in both Muay Thai and kickboxing.
