ONE Championship: Rodtang Jitmuangnon wary of ‘slow’ but durable Jacob Smith in title bout
The Thai subdued the Englishman in a lopsided decision at ONE 157 but he wants to make amends for a disastrous outing the last time he fought
Rodtang Jitmuangnon has been here before. In 2022 he fought Jacob Smith at ONE 157 and claimed a lopsided decision win over the Englishman inside the cage in Singapore.
Next month, he faces Smith again at ONE 169 in Bangkok – but a few things have changed.
For one, Rodtang’s flyweight Muay Thai title will be on the line this time. For another, the two men will face off inside a ring, not a cage.
However, one thing that has not changed, at least according to Rodtang, is his opponent. He feels that Smith is still “slow’.
“He’s still the same in terms of his style,” Rodtang said. “It’s like his engine is slow to heat up. He thinks and acts a bit slow.”
“The best weapon for Jacob is his durability. His durability makes him a hard opponent for everyone.
“I think my speed will give me an advantage over him. In our first fight, I fought him with my speed and agility.
