‘I Really Want To See The Old Rodtang’ – Aslamjon Ortikov Chases Dream Grand Prix Final Against His Idol
The Uzbek fighter reveals why he wants to face 'The Iron Man' in the tournament final.
Aslamjon Ortikov, a top-ranked contender, remains focused on his goal of reaching the Grand Prix final against his idol, Rodtang "The Iron Man" Jitmuangnon. However, he must first face Asadula "The Dagestan Ninja" Imangazaliev at The Inner Circle 39 in Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium on November 20. This match serves as a quarterfinal for the 2026-2027 ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix, an elite eight-man bracket that also includes Rodtang. The bout will be streamed live in Asia primetime, exclusively on live.onefc.com.
Ortikov's previous encounter with Imangazaliev in June ended in a split decision, marking his first defeat in 25 fights. Undeterred, Ortikov sees this rematch as an opportunity to rewrite that ending and secure the silver Grand Prix belt. He expressed his motivation, stating, "That's crazy. That's a lot of motivation, two belts, and especially with all the great fighters there."
Rodtang, once a dominant figure in the sport, recently suffered a loss to Takeru Segawa and is eager to regain his form. Ortikov admires Rodtang's larger-than-life persona and wishes to witness the former champion in peak condition. He explained, "I would love to see him in shape. I would love to see him 100 percent ready. I really want to see the old Rodtang."
While Ortikov acknowledges Rodtang's potential to win the tournament, he remains determined to secure a victory in their upcoming rematch. The combat sports world eagerly awaits this potential dream final.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
