There is a version of Rodtang Jitmuangnon that the public rarely sees. Not the relentless forward-marcher who absorbs punishment and keeps coming, but the fighter who carries the weight of national expectation into every bout and understands exactly what it means when things go wrong in front of the world.

That version has been thinking carefully ahead of ONE SAMURAI 1 on April 29, where he meets Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa in a rematch for the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.

The pressure that comes with representing Thailand on the global stage is not something Rodtang dismisses.

“Of course, every fight is important. There is no fight that I can fight carelessly. There’s no fight without pressure,” he said. “I am here on the global stage. The pressure is undeniably high. In each fight, we perform as the representative of Thailand. We are Thai fighters. The key thing is no one wants to lose. I don’t want anyone to beat me.”

The title loss at ONE 169 in November 2024 — when Rodtang was stripped of the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title on the scale — opened him up to public criticism that he has chosen not to deflect. He has owned the moment directly.

“Some people said I lost my World Championship because of my own behavior. I would say people make mistakes in all kinds of professions and sports,” he said. “If the mistakes stem from my side, I can fix them. Fighting with my opponents, I never missed. I always put my all. I am sure I’m serious enough to beat every opponent I’m facing.”

The weight process itself, managing hydration and body mass simultaneously under ONE Championship’s testing protocol, is something the 28-year-old has navigated for years, and he is honest about how demanding it becomes.

“ONE Championship is very strict in weighing and water percentage. It is very challenging for all fighters, including a highly experienced one like me,” he said. “Honestly, that is very challenging. But everyone made it. And then one day, I made that mistake. It is inevitable. I just accept the reality and keep going. That’s all.”

He has no appetite to move up in weight. The physical toll of managing the flyweight limit is real, but the alternative carries its own risks.

“I had been fighting this way for seven or eight years. It is a bit tiring, but I still want to do it because if I’m ranked up to a higher weight range, there would be so many disadvantages,” Rodtang said. “So, I chose to stay in this weight range as long as I could, no matter how exhausting it makes me.”

What drives him now, heading into Takeru’s retirement fight and the inaugural night of ONE SAMURAI’s monthly series in Japan, is something quieter than a belt or a record.

“I want to be loved by everyone because it’s a sport,” he said. “People win and people lose. I would like the world, including Takeru’s Japanese fans, to appreciate both Takeru and me.”

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