ONE Championship has thrown the MMA world into a frenzy when it announced that flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson will take on Muay Thai star Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a special mixed rule bout.

The origins of mixed martial arts can be traced back to a fairly simple debate: which melee discipline is most effective? Mixed martial arts is essentially the long answer to such a question, pitting various styles of fighting against each other in a face-to-face format, all under the same set of rules.

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong looks back with a special mixed-rule fight between all-time MMA great Demetrious Johnson and Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

The match will take place at the organization’s 10th anniversary special event called ONE X on December 5. It aims to deconstruct what fans have become accustomed to by pitting an MMA ace against a Muay Thai specialist and vice versa.

The first and third rounds will be played under ONE Super Series Muay Thai rules, while the second and fourth rounds will be played under world MMA rules. Each round will last three minutes.

Who is Rodtang Jitmuangnon?

While many Western fans are familiar with Demetrious Johnson – a dominant world champion with the UFC for many years – Rodtang’s fame stems primarily from Asia. Rest assured, the Thai superstar’s references can speak for him.

The 24-year-old has an absurd Muay Thai record of 267-42-10 with a perfect score of 10-0 under the ONE Championship banner. He is the reigning Muay Thai ONE flyweight world champion, a title he intends to keep for a long time.

Originally from Thailand, Rodtang began training at the age of eight to support his family. Ahead of his impending fight with Johnson on December 5, Rodtang is set to face off against Spanish artist Daniel Puertas at ONE: First Strike on October 15.

This double-booking-laden scenario is nothing new for Rodtang, given that he’s been in over 319 fights and is even younger than the vast majority of his contemporaries.

ONE X is the perfect vehicle to introduce Rodtang to a new audience, locking him in the circle with an accomplished and beloved American athlete. Additionally, the format allows each man to showcase their respective strengths, ideally uplifting both athletes in the public eye.

Demetrious Johnson vs. Rodtang is a courageous booking worthy of praise

While many UFC contenders are content to follow in the footsteps of the industry titan, ONE Championship deserves credit for breaking the mold. Other large organizations – including ONE – have already held tournaments and super-fights have become more common.

Spinning the wheels on a new idea, under less than ideal circumstances across the world, deserves applause. The importance of a monumental event like ONE X should not be underestimated.

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Could this be the start of a revolutionary trend, where organizations are forced to think differently? It’s possible. When fight fans step into the proverbial time machine on December 5, expect plenty of fireworks from the circle.

ONE Championship returns on Friday, September 24 with ONE: REVOLUTION, live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Christian Lee defends his ONE lightweight world title against Ok Rae Yoon in the main event.

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