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Current ONE flyweight MMA world champion Demetrious Johnson and the division's longtime Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon made history with one another at ONE X. The two elite martial artists competed in a first-of-its-kind mixed-rules fight.
As iconic fighters in their disciplines, their main event clash brought together one of the best in the world in MMA versus an elite-level Muay Thai striker and combat sports icon.
The fight opened with a round of Muay Thai where Johnson was forced to fight out of his comfort zone, challenging himself to see how he would fare in stepping into the world of 'The Iron Man'. It was a tough round for 'Mighty Mouse' but he made it through, thus signaling a change of the rounds and ruleset.
The second round switched over to MMA rules and once Johnson grabbed hold of him, the fight was only ever going to be one-way traffic. An elite grappler, Johnson cut through his opponent on the ground and locked up the submission, choking Rodtang out cold to declare him the winner.
Watch this instantly iconic full fight below:
Demetrious Johnson rekindled the flame with this fight
Demetrious Johnson has been very open and honest about how this fight brought back the fire that he needed in his career.
'Mighty Mouse' was coming off of the first knockout loss of his entire career to Adriano Moraes and the era of confidence that usually follows him wasn't intact.
Taking on a challenge like a mixed rules fight against Rodtang forced him to raise his game and having survived the opening round of Muay Thai, he now felt back in the groove.
Demetrious Johnson would go on to get revenge over Moraes, stopping him with a highlight reel flying knee to claim the flyweight title that he is still in possession of today. Had it not been for the challenge that Rodtang brought to the table in this fight, this chapter of Johnson's legendary career may not have ever happened.
