DJ Vs. Rodtang, Two World Title Fights Announced For ONE X
ONE Championship is gearing up for its 10-year anniversary, and the promotion will celebrate the occasion with one of the biggest fight cards in history.
The world’s largest martial arts organization officially announced ONE X for Sunday, 5 December, and ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong confirmed three colossal matchups for the event during his Wednesday appearance on “The MMA Hour” with host Ariel Helwani.
One of those matchups will feature striking superstar Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon and mixed martial arts GOAT Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, who will meet in an innovative four-round flyweight Muay Thai and MMA hybrid fight.
Rodtang has been invincible since making his promotional debut in September 2018.
He’s won all 10 of his stand-up matches on the global stage, claiming the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title and establishing himself as the #1-ranked flyweight kickboxing contender.
The Thai megastar is hoping to become the first ONE World Champion in three sports, and now, his grappling will be tested by the best mixed martial artist to ever wear the 4-ounce gloves.
Johnson has worn the GOAT moniker for years – and rightfully so. The American icon was already a 12-time MMA World Champion in North America when he signed with ONE in October 2018.
“Mighty Mouse” then proved himself worthy of that status by defeating three top competitors to win the 2019 ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship. However, he suffered his first career knockout loss to the division’s reigning king, Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes, this past April.
The American wants to smash his way back into World Title contention, but first, he’s eager to share the Circle with Rodtang in this one-of-a-kind battle.
ONE X will also feature the return of ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, who is scheduled to defend the gold against #1 contender John “Hands of Stone” Lineker.
Fernandes has established himself as the most dominant ONE World Champion in history, winning 11 World Title bouts during his nine-year promotional run.
But Lineker firmly believes he can knock his fellow Brazilian off the throne.
The top-ranked bantamweight contender has been unstoppable since joining the world’s largest martial arts organization, defeating Muin “Tajik” Gafurov, knocking out former divisional king Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, and then repeating the feat against Troy “Pretty Boy” Worthen during the “ONE on TNT” event series earlier this year.
With both men willing to engage and impose their will, fans should expect fireworks.
Finally, ONE Featherweight World Champion Thanh Le is set to make his long-awaited return.
The Vietnamese-American knockout artist – who claimed the belt last October by knocking out former two-division king Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen – has recovered from injury and will make his first World Title defense against Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon.
Tonon, a multiple-time BJJ No Gi World Champion, has masterfully applied his elite submission skills to mixed martial arts, where he’s gone a perfect 6-0.
This is a classic striker-versus-grappler matchup, and whoever can impose their strength will leave the Circle with the belt.
Stay tuned to ONEFC.com for more news about ONE X.
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