Janet “JT” Todd has thrilled the world with a slew of memorable fights inside the Circle during her five-year tenure at the promotion, and she will look to impress once again this Friday, March 24. That evening, the ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and ONE Interim Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion unifies her Muay Thai strap against divisional queen Allycia Hellen Rodrigues in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 8: Superlek vs. Rodtang on Prime Video, broadcasting live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Ahead of what promises to be another classic performance from “JT”, we present three interesting facts about the American star.

#1 Her first language was Japanese

Although “JT” lived in Hermosa Beach, California, she never spoke English from the start. Instead, Todd first picked up her mother’s native tongue–Japanese.

“When I watch videos of me when I was little, I have a Japanese accent with my English,” she shared. My mom stayed at home, taught us Japanese, and took us around everywhere for piano practice or gymnastics, or for my sister, it was soccer.”

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#2 Todd’s decision to become a fighter stemmed from ringside

“JT” had never dreamed of making a career out of martial arts. But that all changed after she accompanied her friend to a Muay Thai fight in America. A training partner invited her to watch her compete, and the California native was instantly hooked to it.   

“I got to see her fight and got to see her hard work from the gym really pay off in the fight,” Todd added. She TKO’d this girl with some really beautiful knees, and I was like, ‘This is something I really want to do.’ She kind of inspired me to want to do it myself.”

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Following that experience, Todd immediately booked herself an amateur fight. She left the ring victorious via TKO in her debut in 2009.

#3 She’s finished three opponents in ONE Championship

After enduring a tough loss to Stamp Fairtex in her debut bout, the American star has since dominated the Muay Thai and kickboxing divisions. She enjoys a seven-fight winning streak now, including three highlight-reel finishes against world-class opposition. 

The first came against Wang Chin Long in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2019. Todd outpaced and outstruck the Chinese star before sending her to the canvas thrice in the second frame. Her second KO, arguably her best, was achieved via a head kick against Ekaterina Vandaryeva at ONE: CENTURY in Tokyo, Japan, in October 2019.

In her most recent finish, Todd folded Anne Line Hogstad in half via a body kick in the third stanza.