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Rodtang vs. Jacob Smith II: 4 keys to the Muay Thai flyweight world title at ONE 169

If the rematch between Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon and Jacob Smith is half as entertaining as their first meeting, fans are in for a treat at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug.

Rodtang's ONE Muay Thai flyweight world title will be up for grabs when the two meet in US prime time this Friday, November 8, meaning there is the potential for five rounds of fighting this time around.

“The Iron Man” dominated Smith en route to a decisive victory at ONE 157 in May 2022, but the No. 3 ranked Englishman will be hungry for redemption as he aims for the biggest prize in Muay Thai.

Can Rodtang pull off another win with a similar performance, or has Smith developed enough in two years to change his fortunes? Here are their top keys to victory ahead of the massive fight at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

#1 Rodtang's heavy punches in both directions

Rodtang's volume at the top is always a nightmare for his opponents, but against an equally aggressive opponent, his success isn't just due to one-way traffic.

While “The Iron Man” will definitely look to lead the rallies and score with his impressive hitting streak, his often-overlooked defense will provide big landing opportunities.

He has impeccable timing when returning punches and excellent balance, allowing him to counter powerfully immediately.

If Smith gets too committed in his offense, he can expect to take a fair amount of punches in response, with his momentum contributing to Rodtang's fierce counterpunches.

With the added safety net of his unrivaled chin, the Thai megastar has full confidence in his ability to find leeway in his opponent's aggressiveness to hit back harder.

#2 Smith's feints

Rodtang knew Smith would attack him hard in the first game and did an excellent job of exploiting that, but if the challenger mixes up his attacks he could find more opportunities and eat up fewer counters.

Smith has looked more composed in recent appearances and has shown elements of his offense that could help him if he wants to dethrone Rodtang.

Against Walter Goncalves, the 32-year-old feigned punches and kicks to gauge his rival's reactions and, seeing the opportunity, attacked with venom.

It cleared the way for heavy blows to the head and gave him the opportunity to attack the body with damaging liver shots.

This is also a good way to slow down Rodtang's offense, which can be overwhelming as he builds his momentum. If he can keep “The Iron Man” puzzling, Smith could stop him from constantly wading forward.

#3 Rodtang's elbow

Rodtang's greatest success came with his elbows when he faced Smith for the first time.

The British fighter looked like he had been put through a meat grinder after absorbing dozens of them during the fight, leaving him bloodied early in the first round.

Given his previous success and his opponent's desire to fight fire with fire, expect “The Iron Man” to consistently throw elbows once again.

Whenever Smith left too much room with his hooks, Rodtang would penetrate them with sharp blows and cause great damage.

He also followed his instructions with his elbows as the Birkenhead native held his ground and landed clean shots behind his jabs and uppercuts.

#4 Smith's commitment to the game plan

Smith admitted that his biggest mistake in the first match was thinking he could beat Rodtang with more power and more physicality.

Although his toughness never failed him, this was a tactical error that led to him meeting The Iron Man on his terms – and paying the price.

Smith must control his natural urge to fight and ensure he stays true to his game plan.

With highly experienced coaches at his side who have managed many world champions, he must trust their vision and not get lost in the moment.

The Brit has now spent more time in the ONE Championship, so he has a better handle on the emotions of the big show. That should help him when he takes part in the most important fight of his life this Friday.

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