The highly anticipated showdown has received official approval. Two reigning atomweight global titleholders are set to clash in a spotlight event.
Allycia Hellen Rodrigues, the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion, is slated to put her title on the line against Phetjeeja, the ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion, at ONE Fight Night 41. This event will take place on Friday, March 13, within the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The broadcast will be available live during U.S. primetime via Amazon Prime Video, presenting a highly sought-after contest that followers have yearned for since these athletes established their dominance in their categories.
Rodrigues approaches this title defense with considerable impetus. The 27-year-old Brazilian champion and mother has secured three consecutive victories following her only promotional defeat in September 2023. Her latest showing involved a decisive third-round knockout victory over Johanna Persson of Sweden at ONE Fight Night 33 in July. This decisive outcome secured her a $50,000 performance incentive and reaffirmed her status as the titleholder she has been since 2020.
Prior to that, she achieved a fourth-round technical knockout against Marie McManamon from Ireland. The athlete representing Phuket Fight Club initially claimed her championship by defeating Stamp Fairtex during her first appearance in the organization in August 2020. Following a period away for the birth of her inaugural child, Rodrigues came back in March 2023 to consolidate the divisional titles against Janet “JT” Todd.
Rodrigues’ championship tenure has been characterized by powerful clinch techniques and unyielding offensive tactics. Her background of competing against top-tier strikers globally has equipped her for encounters of this magnitude. She has successfully defended her title on three occasions against formidable opponents, exhibiting no indications of diminishing performance. This upcoming bout stands as her most significant test to date.
Phetjeeja enters the champion-versus-champion confrontation with an unblemished record
Phetjeeja steps into this championship bout maintaining a flawless 8-0 track record within the promotion. The 24-year-old Thai competitor holds the current ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion title, which she secured by overcoming the esteemed striker Anissa “C18” Meksen for the interim belt in December 2023. She then consolidated the championship against Todd a quarter later, through a display that firmly established her presence among the sport’s finest.
“The Queen” recently revisited her foundation in Muay Thai during ONE Fight Night 38 in December. She achieved a dominant first-round technical knockout victory over Martyna Dominczak of Poland, a display that served as a potent reminder of her formidable prowess while wearing 4-ounce gloves. This decisive outcome demonstrated the striking force and refined technique that have positioned her as one of ONE Championship’s most formidable athletes.
Phetjeeja’s fighting career commenced at the age of 7, when her father established the Or Mee Khun gym due to the unavailability of other training centers for females. By the age of 10, she had amassed more than 100 bouts, 70 of which were contested against male opponents. This remarkable feat led to her being dubbed “The Girl Who Could Defeat Boys,” a moniker she held well before securing the WMC Muay Thai World Champion title at merely 14 years old.
The fighter affiliated with Team Mehdi Zatout has actively pursued this confrontation for an extended period. Following her triumph over Kana Morimoto, she explicitly challenged Rodrigues. After her overwhelming victory against Dominczak, she articulated her objectives with increased clarity. Her aspiration is to acquire the Muay Thai championship belt to fulfill her ambition of holding titles in two different sports. Rodrigues’ presence as an obstacle only intensifies her motivation.
This impending bout will contrast Rodrigues’ extensive championship background and raw strength against Phetjeeja’s flawless striking and superior technical prowess. The Brazilian athlete has encountered a diverse range of adversities throughout her five-year tenure as champion. Conversely, the exceptional Thai fighter remains undefeated within the Circle. An inevitable outcome awaits when these two competitors face off in March.
