‘It’ll Be A War’ – Ubaid Hussain Offers Bold Predictions For Rodtang Vs. Nong-O And Shimon Vs. Ondash

Ubaid “Bad” Hussain has a massive quarterfinal of his own on the immediate horizon in the 2026-2027 ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix, but first, he has plenty to say about the two monumental bouts that officially kick off the tournament at The Inner Circle 38.

That Asian primetime card is anchored by a generational clash between Thai icons Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon and Nong-O Hama, with young phenoms Shimon Yoshinari and Ramadan “The Scorpion” Ondash also set to meet in a high-stakes showdown. Both battles, set for Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, November 13, will be exclusively available for subscribers at live.onefc.com.

Hussain’s own turn arrives exactly one week later, when he locks horns with Black Panther at The Inner Circle 39 on Friday, November 20. That card also features reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Asadula “The Dagestan Ninja” Imangazaliev and Aslamjon “El Pantera” Ortikov running it back in a quarterfinal that doubles as a World Title rematch.

First, however, the undefeated British-Pakistani rising star previews this week’s matchups and sizes up the four men who could potentially be waiting for him in the tournament finale should he advance.

Hussain Sees A War Brewing Between Rodtang And Nong-O

Rodtang and Nong-O boast an absurd 542 combined victories between them, and after their highly anticipated meeting at ONE 173 in Tokyo fell apart, the two Thai legends finally get to settle the score. Ranked second and third in the division, they now fight for a coveted place in the semifinals, where the winner of the Shimon and Ondash clash awaits.

The history behind the matchup runs incredibly deep. The former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion ruled the 135-pound division for more than five years, while Nong-O is actively looking to go all the way and write another remarkable chapter after turning back seven straight challengers as the then-undisputed bantamweight Muay Thai king.

It is a fixture that draws strong opinions across the combat sports world, and the Kiatphontip representative certainly has his own.

Hussain told onefc.com:

“This is going to be an epic match. They’re two really good fighters – they’ve been there and done it all. I love their styles, and I expect this to be a war. You have Nong-O’s power and veteran knowledge. Then there’s Rodtang’s aggression and striking. 

“So, yeah, I think it writes itself. It’ll be a war. They were supposed to fight before as well, but the timing works better now.”

Between Rodtang’s 274 wins and Nong-O’s 268, there is absolutely no shortage of tape detailing how this fight could unfold, and Hussain has sifted through it all.

With two legends this evenly matched, the bout hangs on a razor’s edge. Yet, the rising contender offers an honest read on both men and firmly commits to a prediction for how it ends.

The 21-year-old shared:

“Personally, I think Nong-O needs to hang up the gloves, to be honest. He’s too old. I don’t want him to take too much damage. However, you can never count him out. He’ll make it hard for Rodtang, but I do expect Rodtang to bring his best version here.

“I see either Nong-O winning by a decision or Rodtang taking this one by a knockout.”

Hussain Cautions Fans Not To Sleep On Shimon Vs. Ondash

Before the Thai icons throw down, Shimon and Ondash get the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix rolling in a quarterfinal meeting that promises immense stylistic intrigue.

Former WBC Muay Thai World Champion Shimon remains entirely unbeaten across six ONE outings, while the 20-year-old Ondash — the youngest man in the entire field — has yet to taste defeat since moving to flyweight. Given their current form, Hussain firmly believes both warriors will push a relentless pace from the opening bell to ensure the judges are not required.

The Leeds native reflected:

“They’re both exciting fighters, and like myself and Black Panther, I think we’re all coming here to prove something. So, I think fans shouldn’t sleep on this. This one will be another interesting battle.

“Shimon is quite technical and quite tactical. He knows what he’s doing and he knows how to play his shots, which makes him dangerous. But I love Ramadan’s explosive style. He hits you hard and he swings hard.”

Hussain expects a fierce, highly technical battle to unfold when the #4-ranked Shimon and the #5-ranked Ondash cross paths at The Inner Circle 38. However, he certainly will not be watching as a neutral observer.

The Lebanese phenom out of Tiger Muay Thai has a highly vocal supporter on the other side of the tournament bracket, and that distinct bond stems from outside the ring, rather than a brewing rivalry inside it.

Hussain added:

“Ramadan is actually my friend. So, obviously, I want him to win. I don’t really know how this is gonna go, but one thing I do know is that someone will be getting dropped here.”