ONE Championship reveals eight-man flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix featuring Rodtang, Jonathan Haggerty and more
- Grand Prix will be ONE’s first under Muay Thai rules and also features Taiki Naito and Superlek
- First round of eight-man tournament will begin at an event on May 20 most likely to be held in Singapore
It is once again Grand Prix season in ONE Championship.
On Saturday, the Asian martial arts promotion announced a Muay Thai tournament featuring eight of the best flyweight strikers on earth, plucked from both “the art of eight limbs” and kick-boxing competition.
The fun will begin on May 20 at an event that is expected to emanate from ONE’s home base of Singapore. The first-round matchups were part of the promotion’s announcement on Saturday.
The biggest star in the Grand Prix will be Thailand’s Rodtang Jitmuangnon, who holds ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai title. The Thai will battle Jacob Smith of the United Kingdom, who trains alongside human highlight reel Liam Harrison.
Rodtang will attempt to rebound from a submission loss to Demetrious Johnson in a special rules attraction at ONE X last month, but has not yet been beaten in Muay Thai competition under the ONE Championship banner.
Former ONE flyweight Muay Thai champion Jonathan Haggerty will also be part o the Grand Prix action.
He will be looking to build on the momentum of a decision win over Thailand’s Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy in his last appearance, and ultimately earn a shot at redemption against Rodtang, whom he has lost to twice previously.