MMA
Rodtang backtracks on forgery claims and apologizes to Chatri Sityodtong
ONE ChampionshipFour months ago, Thailand's biggest combat sports star declared himself a free agent and accused ONE Championship of forging his signature. This week, he apologized for all of it.
The dispute began in April, when Rodtang Jitmuangnon declared his ONE contract expired and opened the door to offers from other promotions. Reports soon surfaced of a 12-month matching clause in his prior deal, setting the stage for months of conflict.
Rodtang then alleged his signature had been forged on contractual documents. He said he had taken the matter to police, though no formal complaint against ONE was ultimately filed. ONE rejected the forgery claim and filed legal action in Thailand, Japan, and Singapore, with the Thai case alone seeking damages of up to 542 million baht.
An early press conference allowed his rematch with Takeru Segawa to proceed at ONE Samurai 1. There, Rodtang suffered his first knockout loss in 13 years. A gradual path toward reconciliation followed. It was driven by discussions between Chatri Sityodtong, Jitmuangnon Gym owner Somjit Waenkaew, and other senior figures on both sides.
“ONE has always paid me more than the amounts stated in my contracts. Not a single person within ONE forged my signature,†Rodtang wrote.
“I sincerely apologise to Timo Ruge, a member of ONE's matchmaking team, for the misunderstanding that occurred.â€
Rodtang Jitmuangnon rebuilds ties with Jitmuangnon Gym
Rodtang Jitmuangnon signed a new agreement with ONE five days after appearing at The Inner Circle 22. There, he embraced Takeru Segawa in the ring. He is expected to train under Jitmuangnon Gym owner Somjit Waenkaew going forward.
His stated goal remains reclaiming the flyweight Muay Thai title now held by Asadula Imangazaliev.
“I would like to express my sincere regret and apologise to P'Chatri from the bottom of my heart for any damage or impact I may have caused ONE, especially during the past several months,†Rodtang wrote.
“The best way to prove my sincerity is to come back and win the world championship again, bringing honour and pride to Thailand and Jitmuangnon Gym.â€
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
Credit: Waleed Zein/AnadoluA top UFC heavyweight believes it's time for Tom Aspinall to put up or shut up when it comes to his long hiatus from competition.
Undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains sidelined after undergoing multiple eye surgeries stemming from his no contest at UFC 321 last year. Just minutes into his title defense against Ciryl Gane, Aspinall was unable to continue competing after getting hit with several accidental eye pokes.
Despite initial optimism that Aspinall could return to the Octagon in September, the undisputed heavyweight champion still hasn't been medically cleared to fight. UFC CEO Dana White hinted that the matchmakers are preparing to ‘move on' from Aspinall's title reign if he remains sidelined for the foreseeable future.
After Gane won the interim heavyweight title earlier this year, a timeline for a potential Aspinall vs. Gane rematch remains uncertain. In the meantime, a top heavyweight contender is becoming increasingly frustrated with Aspinall's postponed comeback.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta scorches ‘p—-‘ Tom Aspinall over long UFC absence
During his Noche UFC pre-fight press conference, Waldo Cortes-Acosta was asked about whether or not the UFC should strip Aspinall of his heavyweight title.
“Yeah, it's a lot of frustration to see the champion be like this,†Cortes-Acosta said of Aspinall.
“He knows that he needs to come back and fight with Ciryl Gane. I think he's got a p—-, and I think he'll have a long time to heal and come back to fight for the title, but this is not the champion. For me, this is not the champion.
“The champion is someone who has a problem, fixes it, and tries to come back, fights and is a warrior, not a p—-. I don't know where he is, trying to hide because he doesn't want to fight Ciryl Gane.†(h/t Bloody Elbow)
Cortes-Acosta isn't the only star fighter who is impatient with Aspinall and his team. Former two-division champion Henry Cejudo called for Aspinall to relinquish his heavyweight title to allow the division to move on.
Should the UFC strip Tom Aspinall of his title? Share your thoughts in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCUFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje believes Arman Tsarukyan deserves a title shot on merit, but agrees with the UFC's hesitancy.
Justin Gaethje pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when he finished Ilia Topuria by TKO earlier this year at UFC Freedom 250. After a long road back to an undisputed title fight, Gaethje handed Topuria his first loss and left the defending champion physically unrecognizable.
Next, Gaethje will decide whether or not he'll hang up his gloves or return to the Octagon to defend the UFC lightweight title. If he opts to return to the cage, Gaethje will likely fight the Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy winner, although a rematch with Topuria is also possible.
Tsarukyan has fought just once since his short-notice withdrawal from his fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311. After withdrawing due to injury just hours before UFC 311, Tsarukyan returned to the win column by submitting Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar last year.
Many fans and pundits continue to question why the UFC is hesitant to commit to Tsarukyan earning the next lightweight title shot, but Gaethje understands the apprehension.
Justin Gaethje: Arman Tsarukyan ‘made his bed' in last-minute UFC 311 withdrawal
In a recent appearance on the MightyCast podcast, Gaethje was asked about Tsarukyan's long wait for another title shot and whether or not the UFC is justified in postponing it.
“He's also been doing so much to not fight for the title,†Gaethje said of Tsarukyan's title pursuit.
“Come on, we all make our own bed. He was going to fight Islam Makhachev for the belt, and he dropped out the night before.†(h/t MMA Junkie)
Tsarukyan and Ruffy will square off in a potential No. 1 contender fight later this month at UFC 331. If Tsarukyan is victorious, his long wait for Gaethje and the lightweight title could continue.
What is your prediction for the potential Justin Gaethje vs. Arman Tsarukyan fight? Share your thoughts in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
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