Rodtang vs Nong-O: Nong-O Stuns Rodtang by Unanimous Decision at ONE Friday Fights 178

Nong-O Hama defeated Rodtang Jitmuangnon by unanimous decision in their Rodtang vs Nong-O showdown at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok on Friday, 13 November 2026, ending the former flyweight king’s long unbeaten run in ONE Championship and booking a place in the semi-finals of the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix. The 40-year-old Thai veteran dropped Rodtang with a head kick in the second round and never let the fight slip away.

The bout headlined a historic doubleheader at Lumpinee Stadium, with The Inner Circle 38 and ONE Friday Fights 178 running back to back on the same night. It was the first meeting between the two Thai icons inside ONE Championship, and it delivered the upset of the tournament so far.

Quick Reference Summary

How Nong-O Hama Beat Rodtang at Lumpinee Stadium

Nong-O, the former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion, fought with the discipline that made him one of the most respected strikers of his generation. Rodtang, known as “The Iron Man” for his relentless forward pressure and iron chin, had built a 17-3 record inside ONE Championship. Yet on this night the veteran’s timing proved the sharper weapon.

The judges returned a unanimous decision for Nong-O after three rounds of flyweight Muay Thai action. It was a result few had predicted before the opening bell, with Rodtang entering as the No. 2-ranked flyweight contender and the sport’s most recognisable star. Nong-O, ranked No. 3, had turned 40 just three days before the fight, on 10 November.

The Second-Round Head Kick That Changed Rodtang vs Nong-O

The decisive moment of Rodtang vs Nong-O arrived in the second round, when Nong-O landed a head kick that dropped Rodtang to the canvas. The knockdown gave the veteran the clearest scoring round of the fight and forced Rodtang to chase the contest from behind.

Rodtang recovered and pressed forward as he always does, but Nong-O’s defence held firm through the third round. The former bantamweight champion used his jab and teeps to manage distance, refusing to be drawn into the kind of wild exchanges in which Rodtang usually thrives. When the final bell sounded, there was little doubt about the direction of the scorecards.

What the Grand Prix Semi-Final Looks Like Now

The win sends Nong-O into the semi-finals of the 2026-2027 ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix, where he will meet Shimon Yoshinari. The Japanese No. 4-ranked contender earned his own place in the last four earlier on the same night, defeating Ramadan Ondash by unanimous decision in a defensive masterclass that opened ONE Friday Fights 178.

The tournament champion will claim the Grand Prix silver belt and the undisputed ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title. For Nong-O, who already held gold at bantamweight, it is a chance to become a two-division champion in the twilight of his career. For Rodtang, the defeat raises immediate questions about his route back to the top of a division he once ruled.

Why Rodtang vs Nong-O Took a Year to Make

The pairing was first booked for ONE 173 last November, but the fight fell apart when Rodtang fell ill after passing the official weight and hydration checks. The year-long wait only added to the anticipation, and both men spoke with respect about each other in the build-up. Rodtang praised Nong-O’s discipline ahead of the bout, while Nong-O said he was ready to beat everyone in the tournament.

Both fighters cleared the official weigh-ins and hydration tests on Thursday, 12 November. Rodtang stepped on the scales at 134.6 pounds, comfortably under the 135-pound flyweight limit, while Nong-O hit 134.4 pounds. ONE Championship then moved the bout to open ONE Friday Fights 178, giving fans around the world the chance to watch it free.

What Rodtang vs Nong-O Means for the Flyweight Division

The result reshapes the flyweight Muay Thai picture at ONE Championship. Rodtang’s last Muay Thai fight before this one had been a five-round unanimous decision over Jacob Smith at ONE 169 in November 2024, so this was his first Muay Thai bout in two years. The defeat ends his momentum and hands the division a new storyline, with Nong-O now two wins from the title.

Elsewhere on the Friday Fights 178 card, Superlek Jitmuangnon headlined against Anar Mammadov, underlining the depth of Thai talent on display at Lumpinee Stadium. The doubleheader format, with The Inner Circle 38 streaming for members and Friday Fights 178 available free worldwide, gave the Grand Prix quarter-finals the widest possible audience.

For British fight fans, the bout trended at No. 1 on UK Google Trends on the day of the fight, a measure of how far Muay Thai’s biggest names have travelled beyond their home audience. Rodtang remains the division’s biggest draw, and a rematch would be one of the biggest fights ONE Championship could make in 2027.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who won Rodtang vs Nong-O?

A: Nong-O Hama won by unanimous decision at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok on Friday, 13 November 2026, in a ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix quarter-final.

Q: How did Nong-O beat Rodtang?

A: Nong-O dropped Rodtang with a head kick in the second round and controlled the distance for the rest of the fight, earning a unanimous decision from the judges.

Q: What happens next for Nong-O Hama?

A: Nong-O advances to the Grand Prix semi-final, where he will face Shimon Yoshinari, who beat Ramadan Ondash by unanimous decision on the same night.

Q: What was at stake in Rodtang vs Nong-O?

A: A place in the semi-finals of the 2026-2027 ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix, with the tournament winner claiming the silver belt and the undisputed ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title.

Q: Where did Rodtang vs Nong-O take place?

A: At Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of ONE Championship’s Friday doubleheader of The Inner Circle 38 and ONE Friday Fights 178.

Q: Has Rodtang lost in ONE Championship before?

A: Yes. Rodtang entered the bout with a 17-3 record inside ONE Championship, so defeats are rare but not unprecedented for the former flyweight king.