Everything To Know About The Demetrious Johnson vs. Rodtang Special Rules Super-Fight
ONE Championship’s 10-year anniversary event – ONE X – will feature a special rules super-fight for the first time in promotional history.
On Saturday, 26 March, mixed martial arts legend Demetrious Johnson will take on Muay Thai megastar Rodtang Jitmuangnon at the Singapore Indoor Stadium – but what should the global audience expect?
As we look ahead to ONE X, here’s everything you need to know about the battle between one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time and the reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion.
Rodtang vs. Johnson Super-Fight Rules
The four-round flyweight fight will alternate between ONE Super Series Muay Thai rules and ONE’s global ruleset for mixed martial arts.
Each round will be three minutes long with one minute of rest between them, and the battle will kick off with the ball in “The Iron Man’s” court.
Round 1: Muay Thai
Round 2: MMA
Round 3: Muay Thai
Round 4: MMA
The entire bout will be contested with 4-ounce MMA-style gloves.
In the Muay Thai rounds, an athlete can win by knockout or via TKO if they score three knockdowns in a single round.
In the mixed martial arts rounds, an athlete can win by knockout, TKO, or submission.
If a fighter is stopped, there will be no further rounds.
If the match goes the distance, the result will be declared a draw, with no judges’ decision.
How Will The Fight Between DJ And Rodtang Play Out?
Just like the rare but star-studded hybrid-rules bouts from the past – which have included Muhammad Ali, Antonio Inoki, and Shinya Aoki – the competitors will have to survive against their opponent’s specialty and capitalize in their favored rounds.
Demetrious Johnson has trained in striking for many years, but he’s never faced an opponent as relentless as “The Iron Man.” Will DJ’s acumen on the feet help him get through a frame against the Thai slugger?
Conversely, Rodtang has been training in MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for a few years, but he’s surely taken things to another level in preparation for this clash at ONE X.
Does he have the wrestling and ground savvy to stop “Mighty Mouse” from swallowing him up if their matchup reaches the MMA stanzas?
One way or another, fans and pundits will find out on 26 March.
