BANGKOK, Thailand — ONE Championship once again electrified the legendary Lumpinee Stadium, delivering a spectacular evening of martial arts action at The Inner Circle 38. Broadcast exclusively to members worldwide via live.onefc.com, the card played host to some of the finest Muay Thai practitioners on the planet, highlighted by a high-stakes, generational clash between two icons of the sport.
In the main event of the evening, former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion and #3-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Nong-O Hama put on a tactical masterclass to secure a unanimous decision victory over former flyweight king and #2-ranked Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon. With the victory, Nong-O successfully advanced to the semifinals of the prestigious ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix, setting the stage for the next leg of the tournament.
The opening frame of the main event saw both fighters sizing each other up in a calculated and strategic stanza. Nong-O operated carefully from the outside, utilizing his veteran poise to snap out stiff jabs and targeted body kicks that kept his younger compatriot honest. Rodtang, true to his moniker “The Iron Man,” applied a steady, relentless forward pressure, backing his legendary opponent toward the ropes. Once in close range, Rodtang uncorked heavy combinations aimed directly at the midsection, punctuating his offensive bursts with a sharp, lightning-fast step-in elbow that drew murmurs from the knowledgeable Bangkok crowd.
However, the structural dynamics of the bout shifted dramatically in the second frame. Displaying the exceptional timing that has defined his legendary career, Nong-O found an opening in Rodtang’s guard, landing a sneaky, perfectly placed elbow before instantly following up with a flawless left head kick. The thunderous strike caught “The Iron Man” flush, dropping the former flyweight king crashing to the canvas. While Rodtang demonstrated his trademark heart and resilience by beating the referee’s count, the knockdown effectively swung the momentum and the round firmly into Nong-O’s corner, making it clear to the challenger that he needed an extraordinary effort in the final frame.
Knowing he was behind on the judges’ scorecards, Rodtang mounted a desperate, high-volume assault throughout the final three minutes of the bout. He pushed a blistering pace that would have overwhelmed most opponents, lunging forward with dangerous tomahawk elbows and looping hooks. Despite the furious storm of offense coming his way, Nong-O maintained his composure under intense pressure. The veteran intelligently defended against the heavy fire, slipping punches, absorbing blows on his guards, and neutralizing Rodtang’s frantic attacks to preserve his lead and ultimately secure the crucial victory on the official judges’ scorecards.
With this monumental win, Nong-O moves one step closer to Grand Prix glory. He now advances to the semifinals, where he will face the winner of the upcoming quarterfinal bout between #4-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Shimon Yoshinari and Lebanese standout Ramadan “The Scorpion” Ondash.
The path to that potential semifinal matchup for Yoshinari was paved earlier during the companion broadcast actions of ONE Friday Fights 178, where the Japanese standout delivered a defensive masterclass to earn his own spot in the next round. Yoshinari squared off against the hard-hitting Ramadan Ondash in a bout that showcased a classic, compelling clash of styles between a rangy technician and an aggressive pressure fighter.
From the opening bell, Ondash relentlessly pressed forward, loading up on heavy punches in search of a devastating knockout blow that would alter the landscape of the division. However, Yoshinari countered his opponent’s aggression by utilizing his superior physical length and impeccable lateral footwork. Operating brilliantly on the outside, the former WBC Muay Thai Champion neutralized Ondash’s forward momentum with long-range kicks and well-timed knees up the middle that effectively stopped the Lebanese striker in his tracks.
Yoshinari continued his tactical dissection of his opponent into the final stanza, methodically chopping away at Ondash’s lead leg with sharp low kicks while snapping his head back with crisp, accurate counters every time Ondash attempted to rush into the pocket. Remaining remarkably calm under the persistent pressure, the Japanese fighter punctuated his stellar performance with precise elbow strikes and slick evasive movement, cruising to a clear, one-sided unanimous decision victory on the scorecards to punch his ticket to the Grand Prix semifinals alongside Nong-O.
ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix Quarterfinal Results
Nong-O Hama defeated Rodtang Jitmuangnon via unanimous decision in a flyweight Muay Thai contest.
Shimon Yoshinari defeated Ramadan Ondash via unanimous decision in a flyweight Muay Thai contest.
The Inner Circle 38 Results
PTT Apichart Farm defeated Hamza Rachid by knockout via a right hand at 2:37 of the first round in a bantamweight Muay Thai bout.
Lenny Blasi defeated Adam Benwarwar via unanimous decision in a bantamweight Muay Thai bout.
Songpandin Chor Kaewwiset defeated Petubon Sor Teanchai via split decision in a flyweight Muay Thai bout.
Banluelok Sitwatcharachai defeated Mya Lone Chaw by knockout via a left hand at 1:04 of the second round in an atomweight Muay Thai bout.
