Rodtang Jitmuangnon remains under contract with ONE Championship despite publicly describing himself to the contrary ahead of his rematch with Takeru Segawa, company sources told the Bangkok Post.
The Thai star sparked speculation last week when he said his deal with the promotion had expired, that his April 29 fight at ONE Samurai 1 would be a “special bout outside of my contract”, and that he was open to hearing from other promoters.
Sources said the 28-year-old remains tied to ONE through a 12-month matching period that came into effect at the end of his deal.
Rodtang and Takeru meet on stage at the ONE Samurai 1 press conference ahead of their ONE Championship rematch
The Bangkok Post understands that clause – standard for some of the promotion’s biggest stars – gives ONE the right to match any offer made to Rodtang during that window, and prevents him from competing elsewhere.
Sources also said Rodtang agreed to the Takeru rematch during the term of his previous contract, before it expired.
That means while Rodtang may be negotiating new terms, he is not fully free to test the market in the way his social media post appeared to suggest.
Rodtang struck a more measured tone when asked about the situation by Japanese media at Monday’s press conference in Tokyo.
“As everyone knows I’m accepting this fight as a one-off, just only for this fight,” he said.
“There might be other organisations that have approached me but I don’t look into them because I just want to focus on this fight with Takeru first.”
Rodtang is set to compete in ONE Championship for the first time since knocking out Takeru in March 2025
The post, published days before Rodtang flew to Japan, appeared to put public pressure on ONE as talks over a new agreement continued.
“A lot of people have been asking whether I have any issues with ONE,” he wrote.
“I’d like to clarify that I have no problems at all. My previous contract with ONE has simply expired, and I am currently in discussions and reviewing the terms of a new agreement.”
He then added contact details for his management team and invited “promoters, sponsors and partners” to get in touch.
Rodtang’s status quickly became a talking point online, not least because of the significance of the Takeru rematch.
The pair will meet in the main event of ONE Samurai 1 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, with the interim flyweight kickboxing world title on the line.
Rodtang knocked out Takeru in the first round of their first meeting at ONE 172 in Saitama in March last year, silencing a packed Japanese crowd and handing the former K-1 champion one of the most painful defeats of his career.
“The Iron Man” has not competed since.
Rodtang and Takeru on stage with ONE Championship boss Chatri Sityodtong (second left) and ONE Japan CEO Shuntaro Tanaka
In the months that followed, Rodtang made a series of cryptic social media posts, most notably in the lead-up to a planned bout with Nong-O Hama for the vacant flyweight Muay Thai title at ONE 173 in Tokyo last November.
That fight was scrapped after Rodtang went to hospital shortly after making weight.
He had lost the belt on the scale a year earlier.
For now, the focus shifts back to Takeru and a second meeting that already carried enough tension without contract talk around it.
Rodtang insisted in Tokyo that his attention is fixed on the fight itself.
“Anyone can say anything during interviews,” he said. “I can say that I’m going to bring my best but everything will be decided in the ring on April 29.
“I want to take that win home, but I want to say to all the Japanese fans, please don’t hate me if I beat Takeru.”
The contract talk has only added more intrigue to a fight that hardly needed it.
But whatever comes next, Rodtang’s next statement will be made in the ring, when he meets Takeru again in Tokyo on April 29.
