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Thai stars Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Nong-O Hama will join Russian champion Asadula Imangazaliev in an eight-man ONE Championship flyweight Muay Thai world grand prix due to begin in November.
Uzbek contender Aslamjon Ortikov, Japan’s Shimon Yoshinari, Lebanon’s Ramadan Ondash, Thailand’s Black Panther and Britain’s Ubaid Hussain complete the field unveiled by Chatri Sityodtong on Facebook on Tuesday.
“I am thrilled to announce the greatest world grand prix in history for Muay Thai! Get ready for fireworks in November!” ONE’s chairman and CEO wrote.
The announcement came hours after ONE released new AI-powered rankings, with the tournament bringing together the division’s champion and all five ranked challengers.
Ortikov took the No 1 spot ahead of former champion Rodtang, with Nong-O third, Yoshinari fourth and Ondash fifth. Black Panther and Hussain take the remaining two places.
Asadula Imangazaliev exchanges kicks with Aslamjon Ortikov during their flyweight Muay Thai title fight at The Inner Circle 20
ONE had removed its previous rankings at the end of 2025, promising an overhaul of a system that relied partly on a voting panel which included the Bangkok Post.
For Rodtang, the tournament offers a return to the flyweight Muay Thai picture after he re-signed with ONE in July following a contractual dispute.
The 29-year-old suffered a fifth-round stoppage defeat by Takeru Segawa in their kickboxing rematch at ONE Samurai 1 in April. Regaining the Muay Thai belt has remained his principal sporting target.
The new field creates the possibility of another meeting between Imangazaliev and Ortikov, who contested the vacant world title at The Inner Circle 20 on June 26. Imangazaliev won a split decision at Lumpinee Stadium.
The verdict drew boos from sections of the crowd after Imangazaliev fought through a broken nose to hand Ortikov his first professional defeat. Imangazaliev’s coach Mehdi Zatout subsequently left the door open to a rematch.
Rodtang (left) and Nong-O face off at the ONE 173 press conference ahead of their subsequently cancelled title fight in Tokyo
“We will take what ONE Championship offer to us,” Zatout told the Bangkok Post after the June fight.
Nong-O also has unfinished business with the champion. Imangazaliev knocked out the former bantamweight titleholder in March, but could not claim the vacant flyweight belt that night because he had missed weight.
Nong-O had also been due to face Rodtang for the then-vacant belt at ONE 173 in Tokyo in November 2025.
That bout was cancelled when Rodtang fell ill shortly after passing hydration and making weight with minutes to spare. Nong-O had failed to meet the weight and hydration requirements.
Black Panther could also find himself facing Venum Training Camp teammate Imangazaliev.
After beating Diego Paez at ONE Fight Night 42 in April, Black Panther had played down the prospect of a future clash with his teammate.
Ramadan Ondash lands a body shot on Johan Ghazali during their flyweight Muay Thai contest at Lumpinee Stadium
“I believe our management has a plan for us and we won’t cross paths,” he told the Post at the time.
Hussain, 20, enters the picture less than a month after earning a US$100,000 full-time contract with his victory over Isannuea Sor Sasiwat at The Inner Circle 28 on August 28.
That win took the Leeds fighter to 17-0 professionally and 8-0 in ONE. Speaking to the Bangkok Post afterwards, he identified Imangazaliev and Ortikov as the division’s leading men, while Rodtang remained his dream opponent.
“Maybe a year or two, depending on how active I can be,” Hussain said when asked how soon he could challenge for the world title.
The grand prix now puts all three potential opponents in his path, although winning the tournament has not been confirmed as a route to the divisional belt.
Yoshinari and Ondash have also advanced with victories over Johan Ghazali this year. Yoshinari earned his full-time contract in Tokyo in April, while Ondash followed his move up from strawweight with wins over Suriyanlek Por Yenying in May and Ghazali in July.
However, Chatri did not specify an event, venue or exact November start date, nor explain whether Imangazaliev’s world title would be defended during the tournament. The schedule for subsequent rounds was also not included in his announcement.
Ubaid Hussain reacts after earning a US$100,000 full-time ONE Championship contract at The Inner Circle 28
The announcement revives a format that promised much for the division in 2022 but unravelled through withdrawals, injury and a final stripped of its tournament stakes.
That eight-man flyweight Muay Thai grand prix was launched with Rodtang, Jonathan Haggerty and Superlek Kiatmoo9 among the leading attractions, offering the prospect of clashes between the division’s biggest names.
Rodtang entered as the reigning world champion, but ONE explicitly kept his divisional title out of the tournament. The prize was a separate silver grand prix belt, with another winner due to earn a subsequent shot at Rodtang’s gold.
Haggerty withdrew before his quarter-final at ONE 157 in May after being taken ill and failing to receive medical clearance.
Rodtang beat Jacob Smith in the opening round but was then removed before his August semi-final against Savvas Michael at ONE on Prime Video 1.
In its official account of the withdrawal, ONE said Rodtang had not provided a sample for its mandatory hydration test and was therefore not permitted to weigh in. He was removed from the grand prix but remained the division’s world champion.
Panpayak Jitmuangnon stepped in for Rodtang and knocked out Michael to reach the final against Superlek. Their scheduled October meeting was then postponed after Superlek suffered an injury.
The pair eventually met at ONE 164 in Manila on December 3, but both missed the flyweight limit and became ineligible to win the tournament. Superlek won a split decision in a 138lb catchweight bout, leaving the grand prix without an official champion.
“Stay tuned for news on fights, brackets, and the grand prize for the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix!” Chatri added in Tuesday’s announcement.
