Kongthoranee Picks Rodtang and Imangazaliev in Grand Prix

Kongthoranee Sor Sommai has lost to Nong-O Hama, Aslamjon Ortikov and Asadula Imangazaliev, and he still picked the first two quarterfinals of the ONE flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix with confidence. A quarterfinal is the first knockout round of the bracket, so these two fights decide who moves on.

His record against the bracket

Only Rodtang Jitmuangnon is missing from Kongthoranee's list of past opponents. Against Nong-O he went one win and two losses: split decision in the first fight, then two defeats against the veteran.

Ortikov beat him at ONE Fight Night 36 in October 2025. Imangazaliev stopped him in round two at ONE Fight Night 39 in January.

Backing the champion

The second quarterfinal is set for November 20 at The Inner Circle 39. Imangazaliev, the reigning flyweight Muay Thai world champion, defends his belt against Ortikov, who is ranked number one. Imangazaliev took the vacant title in their first meeting by split decision.

Kongthoranee sides with the champion. He says Imangazaliev has "a much wider variety of strikes compared to Aslamjon." He credits Ortikov with speed, but calls his defense not quite as solid yet.

Rodtang's return

Rodtang meets Nong-O in the first quarterfinal at The Inner Circle 38 on Friday, November 13, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. Rodtang held the division for five years before losing the title. This is his first Muay Thai return since 2024. In between he fought Takeru Segawa twice in kickboxing, and the two bouts ended one win each.

Kongthoranee calls his pick partly technical and partly personal. "I really admire Rodtang because, well, Rodtang is Rodtang," he said. He expects that whoever leaves an opening or makes a mistake will be dropped. His lean is 60 percent for Rodtang and 40 percent for Nong-O.

Naito first

Before either quarterfinal, Kongthoranee has his own fight. He faces Taiki Naito under kickboxing rules at ONE Fight Night 49 on November 6. Flyweight Muay Thai gold is still his main target, and the winner of the 2026-2027 Grand Prix will hold that belt.

Our View

These picks come from a fighter who lost to three of the four men he is judging, so each opinion rests on what he felt in the ring. His 60-40 split on Rodtang against Nong-O reads as a close call, not a firm one. The Naito fight on November 6 will show what shape Kongthoranee himself is in before the bracket starts.

Source: BJPenn.com