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"Just way too strong" – That is the take of Australian fighter 'Mini T' Danial Williams on the dominant victory of Rodtang Jitmuangnon over Joseph Lasiri in their champion-versus-champion clash for the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title last November.
Reigning flyweight Muay Thai king Rodtang proved to be immovable for Lasari, the strawweight champion who moved up in weight in an attempt to earn a second world title. When the smoke cleared, it was the Thai wrecking ball whose hand was raised via a unanimous decision victory.
It was the fourth successful world title defense for Rodtang, who has been atop the flyweight Muay Thai division since 2019.
Danial Williams said the outcome of the match was not at all surprising.
He should know, having fought Rodtang in his ONE Championship debut in 2021, where he also bowed to the Thai superstar by way of unanimous decision in their non-title Muay Thai bout.
Williams shared in an interview with ONE Championship:
“Rodtang’s just way too strong for him. Stepping up in weight, that was the big thing when I fought him. Just the different power and the different strength.”
'Mini T' added:
“The shots, he can absorb a whole lot more because he can already absorb shots from people in his weight anyway. I think he punches harder than [Lasiri’s] opponents usually.”
Williams spent the past year fighting in mixed martial arts, going 3-1, but has plans of returning and possibly winning a title in Muay Thai moving forward.
Rodtang, for his part, will see action at ONE Fight Night 6 on Prime Video on January 13 (US primetime). The event is live and free for North American fans with an active Prime Video subscription.
“I hope it happens one day” - Danial Williams wants to fight Rodtang Jitmuangnon in MMA
'Mini T' Danial Williams tested but fell short against Rodtang Jitmuangnon in Muay Thai and now hopes to reengage the champion fighter but in mixed martial arts down the line.
Speaking to ONE Championship, Danial Williams stated that taking on Rodtang in MMA will be an exciting experience and if such an opportunity comes along, he will be up for the challenge:
“I mean, yeah, I would love to fight Rodtang in MMA, five minutes, five-minute rounds, so that'll be sick. I did come off a short camp when I fought him. I was in the weight division above mine and I think we did a bit of a training camp in MMA. I'll back myself, and I think that will be an absolute barnburner and I hope it happens one day.”
Williams has been campaigning in MMA in ONE Championship for the past year, winning three fights out of four, his lone defeat coming at the hands of Filipino strawweight Jeremy Miado.
Rodtang, meanwhile, dipped his hands in MMA for the first time in a unique mixed-rules fight with flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson at ONE X last March.
