Elias Mahmoudi plots road to Rodtang’s flyweight crown if he aces Taiki Naito test at ONE Fight Night 24
Algerian standout Elias Mahmoudi has some work to do before he can score a shot at ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon—and it all starts this Friday night in Bangkok.
Return to the legendary Lumpinee Stadium, 'The Sniper' will look to secure his fourth victory in five appearances when he meets Japanese striker Taiki Naito as part of a loaded ONE Fight Night 24 card on Amazon Prime Video.
Coming off a 98-second knockout of Edgar Tabares and sitting as the fifth-ranked contender in the flyweight Muay Thai division, Mahmoudi already has his path to 'The Iron Man' mapped out.
“After this fight, I would like to fight in Muay Thai against Denis Puric so when I win, I can have a chance to face Rodtang Jitmuangnon for the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title," Mahmoudi told ONE. "But that does not depend on me. It is the organization who has the last word.”
Of course, if Elias Mahmoudi hopes to ever share the Circle with Rodtang, he'll have to get through Taiki Naito first.
ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 24 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, August 2.
Rodtang runs it back with Jacob Smith at ONE 169 in Atlanta
While every fight in the flyweight division continues to vie for their shot at Rodtang, 'The Iron Man' already has his next assignment.
Returning to the Circle on Friday, November 8, he will put his ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title on the line at ONE 169 when ONE Championship makes its highly anticipated debut in Atlanta, Georgia. There, the Thai superstar will run it back with UK standout Jacob Smith in a rematch of their May 2022 clash.
On that night, Rodtang handed Smith the beating of a lifetime, battering and bloodying the former British Muay Thai champion for three rounds.
Since then, Smith has shown significant improvement, earning a vicious first-round KO against Walter Goncalves and going toe-to-toe with 'The Bosnian Menace' Denis Puric.
Will the second time be the charm for Jacob Smith?
Follow this link for tickets for ONE 169: Atlanta on November 8 at State Farm Arena.