ONE Championship’s 10-year anniversary show, ONE: X will be a spectacle for the mixed martial arts fans. With a gigantic three-part card, the Home of Martial Art is delivering big on March 26th.
The main event of ONE: X will see the ONE Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee defend her world championship against the winner of ONE Atomweight Grand Prix, Stamp Fairtex. However, another big fight the fans can’t wait for is the Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs. Demetrious Johnson’s special rules fight.
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A never seen battle, with both MMA and Muay Thai rules in effect with alternative rounds. Thus, it is fascinating to think how the fight will play out.
‘Mighty Mouse‘ recently spoke to MMA Journalist Ariel Helwani and put a light on the challenges he faced and the key adjustments he made for the special rule encounter.
When asked whether changing of rules in-between rounds would be ‘mind f***’, Johnson said, “One thousand percent.”
Johnson explained how he didn’t want to take any Muay Thai fighter’s opportunity, thus he didn’t take the Muay Thai World Title fight against Rodtang.
Describing the astonishing fight, Johnson added, “It’s definitely gonna be different. A mind f… It’s like I’m stopping my natural ability to be fluid and move, right? Because I’m a mixed martial artist; I’m not a Muay Thai fighter.”
“I build upon the rounds, right! Like, first round I’m moving using my footwork, using my elevation change using my clinching, using my wrestling… Second round, same thing…” – ‘DJ’ continued.
“To say that first and third round, I have to be, you know, in a handicapped state and not use my greatest asset. Yeah, it’s kind of that mind f.” – Johnson concluded.
Demetrious Johnson is not complaining about mixed rules’ bout at ONE: X
The greatest fighter in the world does not pick fights. Johnson detailed how ONE offered him this challenging experience, and he accepted the offer, as he gets paid to fight and not pick the fights.
Though Johnson declined the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship, the win against Rodtang will be monumental for him. Chiefly, if it comes in rounds 1 or 3.
Apart from this bout, Johnson will have his eyes set on Adriano Moraes and Yuya Wakamatsu’s fight for the ONE Flyweight World Championship.
What do you think of Demetrious Johnson’s comments? Share your opinion in the comments.
