ONE Championship: Takeru ‘happy’ as Rodtang shoves him in face off after dramatic KO win

Takeru Segawa could not help but grin from ear to ear when Rodtang Jitmuangnon climbed into the ring, got in his face and shoved him at ONE Friday Fights 81.
Those watching at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, and around the world on the live broadcast, would no doubt have been smiling too.
The Japanese kickboxing icon had just survived a major scare to score a dramatic knockout win over Myanmar’s Thant Zin at Lumpinee Stadium in an electrifying instant classic.
ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai champion Rodtang proceeded to tell him he would not “have it this easy” when they finally fight, which drew a roar from the fans packed into the famed arena.
“Rodtang. I’m ready, let’s go,” is all Takeru needed to say, and judging by the response of the crowd, ONE Championship’s fanbase is ready too.
Backstage in the media room moments later, Takeru had still not stopped grinning.
“No, it made me so happy when Rodtang pushed me, because it also showed me Rodtang is accepting me as his rival,” Takeru said. “He showed me that emotion.”
There will be relief on all sides, given the fight was supposed to happen at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena in January. Rodtang withdrew injured then, and Takeru went on to suffer a painful decision loss at ONE 166 to flyweight kickboxing champ Superlek Kiatmookao.
ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed this week both men have already signed their bout agreements to face each other again, with a date and venue set.
Asked by the Bangkok Post, though, if he could give any details on where or when the fight would take place, Takeru burst into laughter.
“That’s impossible,” he said. Pushed on whether it would be soon, he nodded and replied “maybe” with a smile, adding it was a “secret”.
“It’s going to be the best trade of punches,” Takeru said.
Walking out to the ring earlier, Takeru had got a first hand taste of the famed Lumpinee Stadium atmosphere as the crowd popped.
In kind, Lumpinee for the first time felt the undeniable, remarkable aura of the “Natural Born Crusher”, a former three-division world champion in Japanese promotion K-1.
“It’s my happiness that finally I can become a part of ONE Championship as a winner,” Takeru said.
It could have all been so different, and ONE’s matchmakers would no doubt have been squirming when 19-year-old Zin dropped him to the canvas.
Lumpinee let out an audible collective gasp, and Takeru dragged himself up before seeing out the rest of the first round.
“His punches were very fast, and also the counter left hook was very good,” Takeru acknowledged. 
An upset for the history books was brewing but Takeru’s reputation precedes him for a reason, and the 33-year-old dusted himself off and began pummeling Zin to the body in the second round to set up the finish.
Zin rose gingerly to his feet once to beat the count, but shelled up immediately as Takeru unleashed another onslaught – a similar barrage to the one that almost finished Superlek in the third round in Japan.
Perhaps, some of those demons from Ariake Arena – where Takeru left the ring in tears, hobbling on a leg so badly bruised by Superlek it turned purple and left him on crutches – were finally exercised.
“It was just a flash when I got knocked down,” Takeru said. “The damage was not that big. In my head, I was just thinking about how I can give the damage back to him and attack back.
“I didn’t think it would be that dramatic. I know he is very strong, and I didn’t expect myself to win that easily. If I had not gotten knocked down it would have been better, but I know that I have entertained the ONE Championship fans all around the world, and that’s cool.”
A backflip off the top rope in celebration summed it up – Takeru, ever the showman, has arrived.