Rodtang Jitmuangnon has broken his silence after suffering his first knockout defeat in 13 years, a stunning loss to Takeru Segawa at ONE Championship's debut 'Samurai' event in Tokyo. The Muay Thai icon, who hadn't been stopped since 2011, saw his incredible run come to an abrupt end at Ariake Arena on Monday night.
The rematch started promisingly for Rodtang, who looked sharp early and even dropped Takeru with a powerful strike. But the momentum shifted dramatically in the second round when Takeru landed a devastating left hook. Rodtang couldn't recover from the follow-up flurry, and the referee stepped in to call a halt to the action. It was a shocking turn of events for a fighter known for his iron chin and relentless aggression.
For context, their first fight ended just 80 seconds in with a Takeru knockout, so Rodtang entered this rematch with everything to prove. But the build-up was far from smooth, with legal issues between the fighter and his promotion surfacing just days before the bout. In the ring, Rodtang faced an uphill battle from the start, getting knocked down twice in the opening round before the final stoppage at 2:22 of the fifth. Emotions ran high afterward, with the fighter seen backstage in tears.
Taking to Instagram, Rodtang shared a heartfelt message alongside a photo with his family: "My family will always be with me, and the fans who continue to support me—thank you for loving me all along. Today I feel weak, but one day I will come back for everyone." His wife, Kanyarat Yoohanngoh, added her own words of encouragement: "Always proud of you no matter the outcome. You can be sad but don't stay for too long. Keep fighting."
Despite earning the interim flyweight title, Takeru hinted after the fight that this might have been his final appearance in the ring, adding an extra layer of significance to the night. For Rodtang, the loss marks a rare setback in a storied career, but his fighting spirit remains unbroken. Fans will be watching closely to see how this warrior bounces back from his first stoppage defeat in over a decade.