During her four-year run with ONE Championship, Janet “JT” Todd has thrilled fans all across the globe with memorable fights and jaw-dropping knockouts.

The American will look to impress once again on Friday, July 22.

That evening, she’ll meet Lara Fernandez for the ONE interim atomweight muay Thai world title in the co-main event of “ONE 159: De Ridder vs. Bigdash.”

Todd – who defeated Stamp Fairtex in their rematch back in February 2020 to become the reigning ONE atomweight kickboxing world champion – will have the opportunity to add another belt to her collection.

Ahead of this world title showdown, learn these four interesting facts about “JT.”

1. Todd’s first language was Japanese

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Although “JT” was raised in Hermosa Beach, California, her first language wasn’t actually English.

Instead, she picked up her mother’s native tongue – Japanese.

“When I watch videos of me when I was little, I have a Japanese accent with my English,” the atomweight said.

“My mom stayed at home, taught us Japanese, and took us around everywhere for piano practice or gymnastics, or for my sister, it was soccer.”

2. Todd initially picked up martial arts as a hobby

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Unlike some of ONE’s muay Thai and kickboxing stars who started honing their craft from a very young age, Todd picked up martial arts during college. She did this primarily as a way to stay fit and occupy her free time.

The atomweight originally began her journey with cardio kickboxing classes. But when she was a senior at California Polytechnic State University, she was introduced to “the art of eight limbs” by her then-boyfriend.

“At the time, he was just a guy I was seeing, but now he’s my husband. He introduced me to a muay Thai gym in the Central Coast area,” Todd said.

“I loved it right away. Learning new movements was interesting for me because I didn’t come from a martial arts background. So learning to kick was fun because my kicks were probably really (bad) when I started.

“Being able to learn new movements and then perfecting those new movements was something I really enjoyed.”

3. Todd’s decision to become a fighter stemmed from ringside

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“JT” never dreamed of making a career out of martial arts. But that all changed after she cornered one of her training partners for a local muay Thai fight.

“I got to see her fight and got to see her hard work from the gym really pay off in the fight,” Todd added.

“She TKO’d this girl with some really beautiful knees, and I was like, ‘This is something I really want to do.’ She kind of inspired me to want to do it myself.”

Todd immediately booked herself an amateur fight following that mesmerizing night (and she would ultimately win her big debut, too).

4. Todd has finished three opponents inside the ONE circle

After suffering a tough loss to Stamp Fairtex in the inaugural ONE atomweight muay Thai world title fight in February 2019, the American went on an absolute tear.

Now, she is riding a six-bout winning streak, which includes three highlight-reel finishes against world-class opposition.

The first came against Wang Chin Long in Bangkok, Thailand, in May 2019. Todd outpaced and outstruck the Chinese star before sending her to the canvas three consecutive times in the second frame.

Todd’s second KO – arguably her best yet – was achieved with a head kick against Ekaterina Vandaryeva in Tokyo, Japan, in October 2019.

And in her most recent outing in Singapore, the 36-year-old striker folded Norwegian striker Anne Line Hogstad in half with a liver kick.

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