ONE Championship: Nong-O has no plans to stop at 40 as Rodtang awaits

Nong-O Hama turned 40 on Tuesday and says he still has time to win another ONE Championship world title as he prepares to face Rodtang Jitmuangnon in the flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix.

Friday’s quarter-final headlines The Inner Circle 38 at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. Asked at Tuesday’s virtual press conference whether the Grand Prix was his last chance at ONE gold, the former bantamweight champion said he expected further opportunities.

“I just turned 40, but I still have the fire in me,” Nong-O said through an interpreter when asked separately whether the tournament would be his last. “I still love fighting.”

In a Facebook post marking his birthday, Nong-O said this was one of the happiest periods of his career.

“I’m proud that at 40 I can still compete on the world stage,” Nong-O wrote in Thai. “I still get to do what I love, I still have goals to chase, and I keep training to maintain my standards.

“I know my body changes as I get older, but I’m still fully committed to improving. If I’m not as good as I used to be, I’ll train to be better than I was.”

Rodtang Jitmuangnon (left) and Nong-O Hama pose at the ONE 173 press conference in Tokyo before their scheduled title bout was cancelled

Rodtang wished him a happy birthday at the start of the call and urged fans to look past Nong-O’s age. He said other fighters could learn from how well the former champion still looked after himself.

“Nong-O is the best fighter I’ve ever come across,” Rodtang said.

“Whether I’m in my 30s, 40s or 50s, I’ll see what my body can handle,” Nong-O had said at an open workout at Superbon Muaythai Academy in Bangkok two weeks ago. “Right now, I’m still in good shape and can still fight the youngsters. I’ll give it everything, so don’t worry.”

Nong-O said conditioning had become increasingly important as he grew older. He had focused on strength and fitness in camp, with some technical work and the weight cut still to come before facing an opponent 11 years his junior.

Nong-O Hama kicks the pads during his October 27 open workout at Superbon Muaythai Academy in Bangkok

Asked at the virtual press conference whether Takeru Segawa’s stoppage of Rodtang in April had changed his approach, Nong-O said he was sticking with the game plan he had prepared for their cancelled bout in Tokyo last November. His priority was being fit enough to deal with Rodtang’s pressure.

His attempt to add another major honour comes more than three years after the end of his dominant bantamweight reign.

Nong-O won ONE’s inaugural title in the division against Han Zi Hao in February 2019 and made seven successful defences before Jonathan Haggerty stopped him in the first round in April 2023.

Asadula Imangazaliev (left) throws a punch as Nong-O Hama covers up at ONE Friday Fights 147 in March

Asadula Imangazaliev knocked him out in the second round of their flyweight bout in March. Nong-O rebounded with a unanimous-decision win over Kongthoranee Sor Sommai in their trilogy bout at The Inner Circle 20 in June.

That result put him 2-1 ahead in their rivalry. He now sits third in ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai rankings.

The pair were first due to meet at ONE 173 in Tokyo last November, with the vacant flyweight title at stake.

The bout was cancelled after Rodtang fell ill shortly after passing hydration and making weight. Nong-O had failed to make weight and pass hydration, leaving him ineligible to win the title had the bout gone ahead.

Nong-O Hama speaks to reporters at his open workout ahead of The Inner Circle 38

At the open workout, Nong-O said the cold in Japan had complicated his weight cut and that he expected to have an easier time making weight in Thailand.

A win over Rodtang would take him into a semi-final against Shimon Yoshinari or Ramadan Ondash, who also meet on the November 13 card.

Reigning champion Imangazaliev defends his belt against Aslamjon Ortikov on the opposite side of the draw at The Inner Circle 39 a week later, with Black Panther facing Ubaid Hussain on the same card.

Nong-O Hama greets the crowd with a wai at the ONE 173 press conference in Tokyo

The flyweight title will stay in play through the tournament. The eventual winner will take that title and the separate Grand Prix belt that Nong-O has made his immediate target.

“My goal is to win the silver belt, because it would be another achievement for me,” he said.

“Even though the loser is out straight away, I don’t feel pressure. I’ll focus on one fight at a time. Whether I win or lose, I enjoy fighting and being part of this tournament.”