ONE Championship: Rodtang vs. Takeru is "100 percent next"  says Chatri Sityodtong, with both men in favour

Rodtang Jitmuangnon will "100 percent" fight Takeru Segawa next, according to ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

Sityodtong confirmed the planned matchup with Sportskeeda at the ONE 167 post-event press conference after Rodtang defeated Denis Puric by unanimous decision in the co-main event on Saturday morning.

ONE's flyweight Muay Thai champ called for Japanese star Takeru following a successful kickboxing tuneup at Impact Arena in Bangkok despite a bad weight miss that left him in tears.

The fight was set to headline ONE 165 in Tokyo in January, but Rodtang had to withdraw with a hand injury, and Chatri wants to rebook the showdown. He said:

"I want to do Rodtang versus Takeru, one hundred percent. I want to do that fight this year, yeah. Maybe in Japan, let's see. But I definitely want to do Takeru versus Rodtang."

Former K-1 champion Takeru seemed fully onboard when Sportskeeda ran into him following a dip at the swimming pool at the host Peninsula Hotel. He said:

"Rodtang, yes. In Japan."

The 32-year-old Takeru has been in Bangkok this week for several obligations but did not face off with Rodtang in the Circle at ONE 167, as many may have expected.

Asia-based martial arts organization ONE has yet to formally announce its return to Tokyo, though it is believed the show could fall between two US events in Denver and Atlanta, in September and November, respectively.

Takeru lost a unanimous decision in January to Superlek – who stepped for Rodtang – on his debut in the promotion at Ariake Arena.

He suffered a fractured knee in the fight, which left him unable to walk after for several days, with the Japanese star posting some gruesome pictures on social media of his purple-colored, bruise-covered left thigh, which had been repeatedly battered by flyweight kickboxing champ Superlek.

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