'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
British standout Jacot Smith is ready to go five rounds with 'The Iron Man' if necessary.
After coming up short in his promotional debut against Rodtang Jitmuangnon in 2022, Smith will have the opportunity to even the series when he runs it back with the Thai superstar at ONE 169 on Friday, Nov. 8.
Emanating from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Rodtang will put his ONE flyweight Muay Thai world championship on the line against Smith who currently sits as the third-ranked contender in the division.
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Speaking with ONE Championship, Smith is confident that he'll be able to hang with 'The Iron Man,' especially if their highly anticipated rematch dips into the later rounds:
“Let’s just see how the fight plays out. I feel like five rounds favor me. I’m very fit, and I always come on strong towards the later rounds. I’m sure Rodtang is the same, but all I know is I’m going into this fight to win, 100 percent."
Rodtang returns to run it back with Jacob Smith after a year-long layoff from Muay Thai competition
While Smith has stayed relatively active in ONE Championship, earning a big highlight-reel knockout of Walter Goncalves before going toe-to-toe with 'The Bosnian Menace' Denis Puric earlier this year, Rodtang has been relatively absent for much of 2024.
After delivering last year's Fight of the Year against Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE Friday Fights 34, Rodtang was scheduled to square off with K-1 kickboxing legend Takeru Segawa in January. Unfortunately, 'The Iron Man' was forced to bow out of the bout due to a hand injury. He later returned at ONE 157 in June for a kickboxing clash with the aforementioned Denis Puric.
Now, Rodtang is set for his first Muay Thai fight in more than a year, leading many fight fans to wonder if the champ's lack of activity will play a role when he meets the young and determined Jacob Smith for the second time in as many years.
Fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE 169: Malykhin vs. ‘Reug Reug’ live on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, Nov. 8 in U.S. primetime.
