Rodtang And Anatoly Malykhin Break Down Tawanchai Vs. Superbon World Title Fight At ONE 170
The main event of ONE 170 will see two of the planet’s most skilled pound-for-pound strikers throw down in an epic World Title rematch that has fans around the globe anxious with anticipation.
On January 24 in Asia primetime, reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai will defend his gold against former foe, #1-ranked contender, and current ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
This battle comes after these Thai luminaries produced a five-round thriller in 2023, in which Tawanchai secured a hard-fought decision over Superbon to retain his belt.
Fans can look forward to another technical firefight this time around, and fellow ONE superstars Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Anatoly Malykhin will be paying close attention to the showdown at Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Before the action begins this Friday, “The Iron Man” and “Sladkiy” each spoke to onefc.com about the blockbuster World Champion vs. World Champion contest.
Rodtang: ‘I Support Them Both’
A veteran of well over 300 professional striking fights and a former long-reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, Rodtang knows a thing or two about “the art of eight limbs.”
He watched the first exciting clash between Tawanchai and Superbon and expects the rematch to deliver even more action:
“The first fight was interesting in terms of the kicking battle, and I think the upcoming one will be even more entertaining.
“Superbon would love to win the belt, while Tawanchai needs to defend it for his legacy and future opportunities. Neither of them will be tentative. This is going to be a barnburner.”
Well aware that both Tawanchai and Superbon represent the pinnacle of Muay Thai, Rodtang knows that little separates the two fighters. However, he does see some key differences.
While he said the 25-year-old titleholder likely holds a power and physicality advantage, he believes the 34-year-old Superbon possesses better overall fight IQ:
“Tawanchai has heavy weapons, and Tawanchai has an advantage in power. Plus, he’s younger.
“Superbon is better in terms of making adjustments on the fly. He has more experience in adapting his skills. Superbon is someone you can’t take for granted.”
Ultimately, Rodtang couldn’t pick a winner in the clash between his Thai compatriots. He’s close with both fighters and sees the main event of ONE 170 as a true toss-up.
The 27-year-old added:
“Well, I’m 50-50 for each of them. I support Thai boxers. Superbon is my big bro, and Tawanchai is a little bro. I support both of them. I love both of my brothers.”
Malykhin: ‘They Are Knockout Artists’
Anatoly Malykhin – the current ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Champion – thinks the judges won’t be needed on January 24.
He explained:
“These guys always take risks. They are knockout artists, and we all love knockouts, so I will definitely watch this fight.”
Indeed, both Tawanchai PK Saenchai and Superbon are vicious finishers, each owning some of the most sensational knockouts in ONE history.
Malykhin has tasted some of the titleholder’s trademark kicking power firsthand and predicts it could make a difference on fight night. And while he recognizes that Superbon is a supremely dangerous kicker in his own right, he believes the challenger’s boxing leaves some room for improvement.
“Sladkiy” explained:
“Tawanchai is very strong physically, very strong legs. Once, I was at a ONE Friday Fights competition, and he low-kicked me, and my leg hurt for about five days. So, it’s better to avoid low kicks from that guy.
“Superbon is also famous for his leg kicks. He strikes very well, and he can score knockouts using his legs. But he has, so to say, holes in his game. This guy strikes well with his legs, but his weak spot is his boxing – I would define him this way.”
Like Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Malykhin expects the rematch between Tawanchai and Superbon to be a closely contested battle.
The Russian said that both athletes are elite kickers but that Tawanchai’s advantage in the boxing department should carry him to the win and another successful defense of his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title:
“All Thai fighters are somewhat similar. They work very well with their legs – excellent low kicks, good strikes at the upper part of the body and head. Their styles are similar, good leg strikes.
“But I think their boxing is catching up. In my opinion, Tawanchai is a bit better at boxing, which will be the key to his victory.”
