Allycia Hellen Rodrigues was primed and ready to defend her ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title last December until her unification battle with interim divisional queen Janet ‘JT’ Todd was pulled at the eleventh hour.

Her American foe tested positive for COVID-19 weeks before the matchup, forcing the Brazilian star to delay her return.

Rodrigues was initially disappointed at the anticlimactic result. But with the pair set to unify the coveted crown in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video next Friday, March 24, she is confident it was simply a sign from a higher power.

Allycia Hellen Rodrigues is coming back with a bang

Ahead of her comeback fight inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium next week, she said: “I was quite sad [when the fight was postponed], as I was feeling more than prepared, and I was really looking forward to getting back in the ring. 

The One star continued, “But it wasn’t our moment, and I always leave everything in God’s hands. It’s not Janet Todd’s fault that she tested positive, and it’s clear that our health has to come first.”

Read more: “She’s a Good Addition to the ONE Roster” – Janet Todd Praises ONE Anissa Meksen; Accepts to Fight Her Inside ONE Circle

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Rodrigues has been yearning for a return to competition for some time now. And with good reason, given the break, she took to start a family after her World Title victory against Stamp Fairtex in August 2020. Rodrigues will look to make history with a win over ‘JT’ and secure her status as the undisputed champion of the division.

The Phuket Fight Club representative feels that the extended time away has helped her develop more as a person–both inside and outside the Circle. 

She believes it has stoked a fire in her and fueled her discipline and motivation toward training.

The 24-year-old shared: “I certainly had more time to work on some things and improve others that I already felt comfortable doing. It’s been a long time since my last fight, so the desire to fight is getting stronger. And I try to put that desire more and more into each training session.”

What do you make of the fighter’s comments? Who do you think will prevail in the upcoming matchup? Let us know in the comments section below.