Nong-O Beats Rodtang by Decision at The Inner Circle 38

Nong-O Hama, 40, has settled a matchup that fell apart a year ago: he beat Rodtang Jitmuangnon and moved into the semifinals of the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix.

Unfinished business from ONE 173

The two Thai fighters were first booked for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE 173 last November. The bout never happened. Rodtang withdrew after feeling unwell, and Nong-O failed hydration.

A year later they finally met, this time in a Grand Prix quarterfinal. In a bracket like that, the loser is out and the winner takes a step toward the title. It headlined The Inner Circle 38 on Friday, November 13, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.

The elbow, the kick and the clinch

The opening round gave neither man an edge. Rodtang went after the body, and Nong-O fired kicks off both legs.

In the second, Rodtang took the early initiative. Nong-O answered with an elbow, and then a left high kick dropped "The Iron Man."

Rodtang got up before the count ran out, . In the third round he hunted for a stoppage. Nong-O tied him up in the clinch, the close grappling range where fighters hold each other, and that slowed Rodtang down. The cards went unanimously to Nong-O.

A silver belt now in sight

Nong-O, who trains out of Evolve MMA and Superbon Training Camp, moved to 269-59. The Grand Prix leads to the silver belt and, after that, to the undisputed ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title.

For Rodtang, one of the most popular stars in the sport, a loss is rare. The report does not say who Nong-O will face in the semifinals.

Knockouts and decisions below the main event

Two fights ended early. PTT Apichart Farm shook off a Hamza Rachid high kick and stopped the Moroccan by knockout at 2:37 of round one, reaching 115-25. Banluelok Sitwatcharachai and debutant Mya Lone Chaw each scored a first-round knockdown, but Banluelok closed it with a counter left at 1:04 of round two and went to 92-22.

The other two went to the cards. Lenny Blasi dropped Adam Benwarwar with a body hook in round one and won unanimously, taking the 22-year-old Italian to 33-8. Songpandin Chor Kaewwiset beat Petubon Jitmuangnon by split decision. It was his fourth straight win, and it lifted the 19-year-old Laotian to 44-13.

Source: BJPenn.com