MMA Legend Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson Submits Muay Thai Master Rodtang Jitmuangong In Wild One X Fight
A bout alternating between Muay Thai and MMA rules saw Mighty Mouse weather a storm from the elite Thai striker before securing a win via rear-naked choke.
Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson conquered a totally unfamiliar challenge on Saturday night in Singapore, defeating Muay Thai star Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a long anticipated special rules showdown.
Johnson, widely considered one of the best MMA fighters of all time, met Rodtang, one of the world’s top Muay Thai fighters, in the co-main event of the 20-fight ONE X card, which celebrated the 10th anniversary of Singapore-based martial arts promotion ONE Championship.
In order to level the playing field, the bout alternated between Muay Thai and MMA rules, starting with the former, over the course of four three-minute rounds.
It was abundantly clear from the get-go that Johnson, who had never competed under Muay Thai rules beforehand, would be in grave danger through the first three minutes he spent in the cage with the Rodtang. The Thai star, who holds ONE Championship’s flyweight Muay Thai title, is known as one of the most violent fighters in combat sports period, with over 260 pro wins to his credit—many of them knockouts.
It wasn’t easy, but Johnson survived that opening round through a blend of evasive movement and ironclad defense — and some good old fashioned grit. He even landed a few nice punches of his own, though Rodtang, who boasts the durability of concrete wall, didn’t seem bothered by any of them.
“He’s got a chin,” Johnson said in his post-fight interview with ONE commentator and former fighter Mitch Chilson. “That’s not the first time I’ve fought guys with chins.”
Once the first round was done, the fight switched to MMA rules, which meant Johnson, an accomplished wrestler and proven submission threat, could get to work with his best weapons — and get to work he did.
The former UFC champion was patient, seemingly wary that Rodtang might respond to his takedown attempts with a fight-ending knee or uppercut, but ultimately dragged the fight to the mat successfully.
From there, Rodtang, who has only been learning to grapple for a short time, was a fish out of water. Johnson climbed onto the Thai’s buzzsaw’s back and locked up a rear-naked choke.
Rodtang, to his credit, refused to tap, but was soon drifting off under the Jumbotron to raucous applause from the crowd inside the packed Singapore Indoor Stadium.
“I came to [expletive] fight,” Johnson said after his victory was secure.
It was an absolutely wild fight and fun showcase for one of MMA’s most accomplished fighters. The win also got him back on track after a shocking knockout loss to ONE Championship’s reigning flyweight MMA champion Adriano Moraes in 2021.
The ONE X card also saw former UFC welterweight contender Yoshihiro Akiyama — better known by the nickname “Sexyama” — defeat grappling ace Shinya Aoki by second-round knockout after fighting off a rear-naked choke for the entirety of round one.
The event was topped by an atomweight title fight between champion Angela Lee of Hawaii and challenger Stamp Fairtex of Thailand, which the former won by submission due to a rear-naked choke in round two.