ONE Championship sues top star over ‘multiple’ contract breaches

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 5: Rodtang Jitmuangnon celebrates his TKO victory at ONE Championship Fight Night 10 on May 5, 2023, at the 1st Bank Center in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Christopher Colon/Pximages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Things aren’t going great for ONE Championship.

The promotion has announced it is taking legal action against one of its biggest stars, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, over what it claims are multiple breaches of contract.

In a statement released today, the promotion confirmed it has initiated legal proceedings in three countries.

“ONE would like to issue a clear and transparent statement to our fans, athletes, and partners,” the promotion said in a press release.

At this time, we have initiated legal proceedings in Singapore, Japan, and Thailand against ‘Rodtang’ due to multiple breaches of his contractual obligations with ONE.

We have a strict policy against breach of contracts, including providing misleading information and displaying derogatory messages.

In the past, we have been constantly and sincerely trying to collaborate with the ‘Rodtang’ sincerely.

However, when contractual obligations are ignored so many times, there is a necessity to act appropriately and decisively, for the benefit of all stakeholders in the ONE ecosystem.

The review and investigation process is currently ongoing, and we will coordinate closely with relevant agencies in each country following further legal proceedings.

The legal proceedings that have been initiated are aimed at reclaiming appropriate damages in the countries concerned.

Meanwhile, ONE is reserving further comment on the details of the legal process.”

The situation reportedly escalated in recent weeks.

According to Timothy Wheaton of LowKickMMA, tensions spiked after Rodtang claimed on social media last month that his contract with ONE had expired and that he was reviewing a new deal — something the promotion disputes, maintaining he is still under contract.

Then things took an even more serious turn.

Earlier this year, Rodtang later accused ONE Championship of forging his signature on “more than 30” contracts, alleging his legal team confronted an individual who admitted to signing on his behalf.

That accusation appears to have triggered the legal response.

Rodtang has since responded publicly, expressing frustration and confusion over the situation.

“I signed the contract in 2022. I asked to see the contract and only received it in November 2025,” he wrote. “I can’t even read English, and now they’re going to sue me… Does fairness really still exist? They said we were like brothers.”

Despite the escalating dispute, Rodtang is still scheduled to face Takeru Segawa in a highly anticipated rematch at ONE Samurai 1 on April 29 in Tokyo, Japan (watch the first fight here).

For now, the fight remains on.

But with legal battles unfolding across multiple countries, that could change quickly.

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