Jonathan Di Bella Backs Rodtang In Grand Prix Quarterfinal Against Nong-O
Jonathan Di Bella usually spends fight week breaking down his own opponents. This time, the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion is turning his eye to the opening round of the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix.
Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon meets Nong-O Hama in the main event of The Inner Circle 38 on Friday, November 13, at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. Earlier that night, Shimon Yoshinari and Ramadan “The Scorpion” Ondash open ONE Friday Fights 178, which will be available free through ONE’s social media platforms and global broadcast partners.
The two Thai legends were first scheduled to meet at ONE 173 last November, but the bout fell through. Di Bella believes the younger man will benefit most from the wait.
Rodtang was stopped in the fifth round of his rematch with Takeru Segawa at ONE SAMURAI 1 in April, the first time he had been knocked out in ONE. Di Bella sees that loss as fuel rather than a setback.
“That’s a good fight. It’s two veterans, and I think Rodtang will win because he’s younger, and now he’s hungrier than ever after that Takeru loss,” Di Bella said.
“He has to reset. He’s got the fire back, and he wants to win.”
The 30-year-old Montreal native speaks from experience. His only professional loss came against Prajanchai Pongsuphan PK in 2024, and he later avenged it at ONE Fight Night 36 to unify the kickboxing crown.
He has also received glowing reports on Rodtang’s camp from their mutual nutritionist, Peter Miller of Condition Nutrition. Di Bella expects “The Iron Man” to advance by decision.
The winner faces either Shimon or Ondash in the semifinals. The unbeaten 22-year-old Shimon has gone 6-0 in ONE, while the 20-year-old Ondash has won back-to-back fights since moving up from strawweight.
Di Bella sees Ondash as the more aggressive knockout hunter and Shimon as the sharper counter-puncher. He believes their quarterfinal could steal the show.
Reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Asadula Imangazaliev defends his title against Aslamjon Ortikov in another quarterfinal at The Inner Circle 39 on November 20.
For all his certainty about the main event, Di Bella cannot separate the two young contenders.
“It’s 50-50. I can’t call this one. Honestly, it’s a crazy match,” he said.
READ MORE: Who Is Rodtang Jitmuangnon?
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