‘I Want To Fight Rodtang’ – Asadula Imangazaliev Eyes Potential World Grand Prix Final Against ‘The Iron Man’
The unbeaten flyweight king welcomes the opportunity to face the Thai megastar.
By Fachrul Sidiq
Nov 11, 2026, 05:00 UTC
Reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Asadula “The Dagestan Ninja” Imangazaliev has already conquered some of the division’s most formidable strikers. But there’s one superstar he’d relish the opportunity to face on the biggest stage.
The undefeated Dagestani has expressed his interest in a potential showdown with former longtime divisional king Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon, a matchup that could materialize in the final of the 2026-2027 ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix.
First, Imangazaliev must defend his gold against #1-ranked Aslamjon “El Pantera” Ortikov in a highly anticipated quarterfinal rematch at The Inner Circle 39 on Friday, November 20, live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The action will stream exclusively for members at live.onefc.com.
Meanwhile, Rodtang begins his own tournament journey against fellow Thai legend Nong-O Hama at The Inner Circle 38 on November 13. The quarterfinal winner will advance to face either Shimon Yoshinari or Ramadan Ondash in the semifinals.
That creates the possibility of an extraordinary final between two generations of flyweight Muay Thai greatness. And although Imangazaliev welcomes that possibility, he knows the star-studded bracket offers no guarantees.
The undefeated Russian told onefc.com:
“Yes, it would be very nice for me if Rodtang makes it. I want to fight Rodtang after Aslamjon. But things have changed a little bit, and I don’t know now.
“It doesn’t matter. If I need to fight someone else, no problem. But [Ramadan] Ondash and Shimon are also a very good fight, two younger guys in this Grand Prix. Too much action, you know.”
A potential meeting would carry immense significance for both men. Rodtang ruled the division for five years and became a global sensation through his relentless aggression, durability, and electrifying performances.
Imangazaliev, meanwhile, has established himself as the division’s new standard-bearer, defeating Kongthoranee Sor Sommai, Nong-O, and Ortikov during his unbeaten rise to World Title glory.
The Dagestani recognizes Rodtang’s legendary status, though he admits he cannot judge his potential rival’s current motivation from the outside. In his view, achieving enormous success can present athletes with a different kind of challenge.
He said:
“You know, when you have too much money, when you have everything, maybe you can get tired of the sport, of the discipline. You need to make weight. You need to train two times a day, every day.
“But when you have everything, maybe when you wake up in the morning, you think, ‘I have everything. Why do I need this?’ And maybe he’s not hungry. But I don’t know. Maybe he’s still hungry too. But for me, it doesn’t matter, you know, because I’m hungry. I know inside I have fire. I’m ready.”
That hunger has fueled Imangazaliev’s remarkable ascent through ONE, where he has combined spectacular finishes with the confidence to challenge established names regardless of their reputations.
Yet the reigning king has little interest in lengthy comparisons with his fellow contenders. Rather than declare himself superior in every department, he prefers to let his performances demonstrate the qualities that separate him from the competition.
Imangazaliev said:
“I don’t need to speak about this because people can see it in my fights. My technique is different, my mind, my mentality, my character, everything is different.
“Every fighter is different, of course, but I’m here to stay champion.”
Imangazaliev Ready For Every Challenge In Historic Grand Prix
For reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Asadula Imangazaliev, the prospect of facing Rodtang is only one attraction in an eight-man tournament featuring some of the finest Muay Thai talent from around the world.
With the prestigious silver Grand Prix belt and ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title at stake, the competition brings together established legends, dangerous contenders, and young phenoms capable of changing the division’s landscape.
Imangazaliev expects every quarterfinal to deliver a demanding test. Even as the reigning king, he sees a field packed with opponents who have earned their opportunity to compete for the sport’s biggest prizes.
He said:
“Every fight is tough. But I think there will be very, very good fights in this Grand Prix.
“First, my fight with Aslamjon. But of course, there are legends also, Rodtang and Nong-O, and all the younger fighters.”
On Imangazaliev’s side of the bracket, the winner of Black Panther versus Ubaid Hussain could stand between him and a place in the final.
The tournament’s format also means that his rematch with Ortikov comes immediately, rather than later in the competition. But for the Dagestani, the bracket’s arrangement changes nothing about the opportunity before him.
Imangazaliev said:
“I think [me and Ortikov] could also be a very good final, but if we fight first, no problem. For me, it doesn’t matter. I came here only to take everything.
“It doesn’t matter to me who my opponent is, who is first or second. I just came to take the belt.”
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