Danial Williams Has No Fear Ahead of Bout Against Rodtang Jitmuangnon
ONE Super Series debutant “Mini T” Danial Williams is joining the world’s largest martial arts organization ready to face the biggest test of his young career.
Williams will take on Thai striking superstar Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon on the main card of “ONE on TNT I,” the first installment of a four-part event series which broadcasts live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Wed., April 7 (Thu., April 8 in Asia).
It’s a bout that will be available for a massive American audience, live on United States prime time television. Williams isn’t at all fazed by the challenge that lies before him, and counts Rodtang as any other fighter he’s fought in the ring.
“It’s absolutely huge, but I guess it just hasn’t hit me yet,” Williams told ONE Championship in a recent interview.
“I’m just going to keep my head down and focus on my training. I’m not going to buy into the whole thing and get overwhelmed about how crazy big [this fight] is. I’m just focusing on Rodtang. It’s just going to be me and him in the cage at the end of the day, anyway. He’s only human.”
Rodtang is one of the most exciting fighters in ONE Championship. The 23-year-old Thai fighter has remained unbeaten in ONE Super Series. He currently holds the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title, although the bout against Williams, which is at a catchweight of 61.5-kg, will be a non-title affair.
Williams knows exactly how he’s going to approach the fight, and says he’s coming in with a solid game plan.
“I can be a bit wild with the chin up, but I think being a bit jumpy and having different footwork brings a different game. I see a similar style [between us], but it’s a little bit different,” said Williams.
“I’ll want to fight in his face, but not be too crazy, and when we exchange, pick his gaps as well. So when he swings wildly, I’ll swing wildly back at him, but be a bit more careful. [Also, I’ll be] using fakes and a little more footwork because I don’t like fighting Thais the same way they fight, so I’m going to make a few tweaks and be a bit more unpredictable with my shots.”
If Williams were to defeat Rodtang, it would certainly be a surprising result, and the Australian fighter says he isn’t afraid to gun for the most shocking victory possible.
“I would like this [bout to end] with a knockout. It would be awesome to evade one of his shots and give one back and stop him. Of course, that would be the ultimate, ultimate thing,” said Williams.
“That’s something I’ve envisioned every day. That would be a cool outcome, but I don’t want to sound too cocky because I respect him a lot, and until we touch gloves, I won’t actually be able to feel his power. But I’m not scared. That’s the big thing. I’m not scared at all.”
In the main event of “ONE on TNT I,” reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes defends his world title against ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix / 12-time UFC World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.
Also on the card, former UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez takes on #2-ranked lightweight contender Iuri Lapicus, while reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon makes an appearance.
The “ONE on TNT” series airs every Wednesday in the United States from April 7 for four weeks. Each week will include a preliminary card digitally streamed exclusively on the Bleacher Report App and B/R Live from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, followed by three main card fights televised exclusively on TNT in the U.S. at 10 p.m. ET. It will be available in Asia via the usual channels.
