KUCHING: At 40, Nong-O Hama showed there is still plenty left in the tank after defeating Rodtang Jitmuangnon by unanimous decision in their ONE Flyweight Muaythai World Grand Prix quarter-final at Lumpinee Stadium, Thailand tonight (Nov 13).
Eleven years separated the two Thai stars, but their long-awaited meeting quickly developed into a fierce three-round contest between two former ONE world champions.
Nong-O, an eight-time former ONE Bantamweight Muaythai World Champion, produced the biggest moment of the fight in the second round when he dropped the 29-year-old Rodtang.
Rodtang recovered and immediately pushed forward, trading heavily with his older opponent as he tried to fight his way back into the contest as they drench themselves in a brutal bloodbath.
Neither man gave much ground as the exchanges intensified, but Nong-O continued to manage the fight well enough to see out the final round.
All three judges eventually awarded the bout to Nong-O, sending the veteran through to the Grand Prix semi-finals.
Speaking in the ring for the post-match interview, Nong-O took pride in the fact that he remains capable of competing against the division’s leading names despite his age.
“I’m proud of myself. At 40 years old, I’m still fighting top fighters, younger fighters,” he said.
The victory keeps alive his bid to add the flyweight crown to the bantamweight championship he previously held.
Rodtang, meanwhile, entered the tournament seeking to regain the flyweight title he once held, but his campaign ended at the quarter-final stage.
The pair had originally been scheduled to meet at ONE 173 in November 2025, only for the bout to be cancelled after Rodtang fell ill.
Their eventual meeting came with a place in the final four at stake and delivered the kind of physical battle expected from two of Thailand’s most established muaythai names.
Nong-O now moves into the semi-finals with the chance to continue his pursuit of becoming a two-division ONE world champion, where he will next face either Ramadan Ondash or Shimon Yoshinari in the semis.
