ONE Championship has announced its intention to pursue legal action against fighter Rodtang Jitmuangnon in three separate countries, citing multiple violations of his contractual agreements with the organization. This development occurs less than two weeks before Rodtang is slated to headline ONE Samurai 1 against Takeru Segawa on April 29, 2026, in Tokyo.
In an official statement released across its social media channels, ONE Championship confirmed the commencement of legal proceedings in Singapore, Japan, and Thailand. The promotion cited “multiple breaches of contractual obligations,” along with the “dissemination of potentially misleading information and statements that may be considered defamatory” as the basis for their legal recourse. ONE stated that it had made “continuous and sincere efforts to work with Rodtang in good faith” prior to this decision, but that Rodtang’s repeated disregard for his contractual duties left them with no alternative. The organization intends to seek “appropriate damages in the relevant jurisdictions” and will refrain from further comment on the specifics of the ongoing investigation.
Background of the Dispute
This situation has been escalating for several months. In November 2025, Rodtang withdrew from a scheduled Flyweight Muay Thai World Title bout against Nong-O Hama at ONE 173 in Tokyo, citing illness after weigh-ins. The fight was ultimately canceled, and Nong-O also failed to make weight, exacerbating the promotional difficulties.
Tensions heightened in February 2026 when Rodtang posted ambiguous messages on social media hinting at career dissatisfaction. Subsequently, on February 19, he filed a defamation complaint with Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau, naming online users he accused of making abusive remarks about his family. While this action is separate from his issues with ONE, it marked a period of unusually public activity from the fighter.
The contract dispute became fully public in March 2026. On March 25-26, Rodtang publicly declared on Facebook that his contract with ONE Championship had expired and that he was evaluating a new offer. However, sources within ONE Championship informed the Bangkok Post that Rodtang remained under contract with the promotion, contrary to his public assertions.
Further actions were taken by Rodtang in early April 2026 when he posted a detailed account on Facebook alleging that his signature had been forged on over 30 contracts. He claimed that the individual responsible admitted to signing the additional contracts himself when confronted by Rodtang’s lawyer. This sequence of events, including the public claims of contract expiry, allegations of forged signatures, and related social media posts, appears to form the core of ONE’s complaint regarding misleading statements and potential defamation.
Fight Status Remains Uncertain
Despite the ongoing legal actions, Rodtang’s scheduled rematch with Takeru Segawa is still listed for ONE Samurai 1 on April 29 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, with the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title at stake. Rodtang himself had previously described this fight as a “special bout outside of his contract terms,” a framing that ONE’s current legal action directly challenges.
The two fighters first clashed at ONE 172 in March 2025, where Rodtang defeated Takeru by knockout in the first round with a left hook. Takeru immediately sought a rematch, specifically requesting Rodtang for what he announced would be his final professional fight. The bout was officially announced in February 2026 and scheduled for April 29.
The certainty of this fight proceeding as planned is now in question. ONE has not announced any plans to remove the bout from the card, and Rodtang confirmed his readiness to compete as recently as late March 2026. ONE maintains that the legal process is ongoing and will not offer further comment. Details regarding how the legal proceedings in Singapore, Japan, and Thailand will be coordinated or the projected timeline for resolution have not been disclosed.
English Translation and Reframing:
ONE Championship to Sue Rodtang Over Contractual Breaches and Defamation Allegations
ONE Championship has officially announced its decision to take legal action against fighter Rodtang Jitmuangnon in three countries: Singapore, Japan, and Thailand. The promotion alleges multiple breaches of his contractual obligations, along with the dissemination of potentially misleading and defamatory information. This legal move comes less than two weeks before Rodtang is scheduled to face Takeru Segawa in the main event of ONE Samurai 1 on April 29, 2026, in Tokyo.
In a statement released across its social media platforms, ONE Championship confirmed the initiation of legal proceedings. The organization cited Rodtang’s “multiple breaches of contractual obligations” and his “dissemination of potentially misleading information and statements that may be considered defamatory” as grounds for the lawsuit. ONE emphasized that it had made “continuous and sincere efforts to work with Rodtang in good faith” but was compelled to act due to his repeated disregard for his contractual commitments. The promotion intends to seek “appropriate damages in the relevant jurisdictions” and will not comment further on the specifics while the legal process is active.
Context of the Legal Dispute
The dispute has been developing over several months. In November 2025, Rodtang withdrew from a scheduled Flyweight Muay Thai World Title fight against Nong-O Hama at ONE 173 in Tokyo, citing illness post-weigh-ins. The fight was subsequently canceled, and Nong-O also failed to make weight, adding to the promotion’s challenges.
Further escalation occurred in February 2026 when Rodtang posted cryptic messages on social media hinting at career-related frustrations. On February 19, he filed a defamation complaint with Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau, accusing online users of making abusive remarks about his family. While distinct from his issues with ONE, this incident highlighted a period of unusual public engagement from the fighter.
The contract dispute came to public attention in March 2026. Rodtang stated publicly on Facebook on March 25-26 that his contract with ONE Championship had concluded and that he was reviewing a new offer. However, sources within ONE Championship informed the Bangkok Post that Rodtang remained under contract despite his public declarations.
In early April 2026, Rodtang escalated the situation by publishing a detailed Facebook post alleging that his signature had been forged on more than 30 contracts. He claimed that the individual involved confessed to signing the additional contracts himself when confronted by Rodtang’s lawyer. This series of events—public claims of contract termination, allegations of forged signatures, and related social media activity—appears to be the foundation of ONE’s legal complaint concerning misleading statements and potential defamation.
Outlook for the Scheduled Fight
Despite the legal proceedings, Rodtang’s scheduled rematch against Takeru Segawa remains on the card for ONE Samurai 1 on April 29 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, with the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title on the line. Rodtang had previously referred to the Takeru fight as a “special bout outside of his contract terms,” a framing that ONE’s legal action now directly contests.
The first encounter between Rodtang and Takeru took place at ONE 172 in March 2025, where Rodtang secured a knockout victory in the first round. Takeru immediately requested a rematch, designating Rodtang as his opponent for what he announced would be his final professional fight. The bout was officially confirmed for April 29, 2026.
The certainty of this fight proceeding as planned is now uncertain. ONE has not indicated any intention to remove the bout from the event lineup, and Rodtang confirmed his full preparation to compete as recently as late March 2026. ONE has stated that the legal process is ongoing and will not provide further comments. No details have been released on how the proceedings in Singapore, Japan, and Thailand will interact, or the anticipated timeline for resolution.
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