Allycia Hellen Rodrigues Sets Her Sights On MMA Gold After World Title Defense
Allycia Hellen Rodrigues walked out of The Inner Circle 19 with the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Title still around her waist and a very specific plan already forming for what comes next.
Rodrigues defeated “The Queen” Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom by split decision across five rounds in the main event of The Inner Circle 19 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, June 19, completing her fifth successful title defence. The win made her the first fighter to defeat Phetjeeja inside ONE Championship.
The Brazilian was clinical in her early execution. She attacked Phetjeeja’s legs, imposed her Muay Thai in the clinch, and kept pressure on the kickboxing champion throughout the opening rounds. The fight tightened in the middle stanzas as Phetjeeja found more success with her boxing, but Rodrigues pressed forward and refused to let the challenge dictate the distance.
“I’m so happy to represent my team and everyone against a really strong opponent like Phetjeeja, and to get one more win to keep the belt with us,” she said.
“For sure, she’s one of the strongest opponents of my life, but I felt good in the fight. In the beginning, I felt really great, and things were going really well. In round three, the fight became harder, but we came back and took the win.”
She broke down the tactical sequence that turned the fight in her favour. Phetjeeja began to retreat as the clinch pressure accumulated, and that shift in movement was the moment Rodrigues identified as decisive.
“The fight was good. I did everything I trained really hard to do for this fight: kick her leg, land knees, and clinch. I felt good. The fight became harder at some point, but then I overcame it and kept clinching. Phetjeeja started running away, and that’s when the fight started going [my way.]” she said.
“It was a close fight, but I feel I won most of the rounds. I only lost one round, so I was a little bit unsure, but I was confident that I did enough to take the win.”
Rodrigues left the door open for a rematch with Phetjeeja, offering words of genuine respect for the challenger and what she represents. Then she turned toward the future.
“We’re always ready, and we’re going to get better and better,” she said.
“Thank you so much for the fight. I have so much respect for you and your story. It was a pleasure to share the ring with Phetjeeja. See you soon.”
The five-time Muay Thai defender has already begun MMA training and has her heart set on another world title in a different ruleset.
“I’m already training MMA, and I’m planning to make the move. If everything goes well, my next fight will be in MMA,” she said.
“For sure, I want the MMA belt.”
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