The ONE atomweight muay Thai world title will finally be unified on March 24, and it has been a long road to get to this point.
Divisional queen Allycia Hellen Rodrigues returns to the ONE Circle for the first time since 2020 at ONE Fight Night 8 after taking time away from the sport to start a family.
The Brazilian will defend her title for the first time against interim champion Janet Todd in the co-main event, which broadcasts live on Amazon Prime Video.
Before the muay Thai standouts lock horns, we recap the journey leading up to the title unification.
Rodrigues wins the gold
Rodrigues made a statement in her promotional debut at “ONE: A New Breed” back in August 2020.
Faced with Thai superstar and then-atomweight Muay Thai queen Stamp Fairtex, the Phuket Fight Club representative defied the odds to take home a split-decision win and capture the coveted belt.
Her performance may have stunned fans watching at home, but Rodrigues had bigger plans in life.
Soon after winning the belt, Rodrigues, then 22, put her career on hold to have her first child and enjoy her time as a mother. In the meantime, the division continued to move forward.
Todd wins interim title
As Rodrigues was preparing to get back into competition shape, ONE Championship moved ahead with an interim title. And at ONE 159 in July 2022, the kickboxing queen stepped forward and claimed the throne.
In the co-main event, ONE atomweight kickboxing world champion Todd out-struck Spanish star Lara Fernandez to become the interim titleholder.
The American had been on a tear since her unsuccessful ONE atomweight muay Thai world title challenge in her debut against Stamp back in February 2019, reeling off six-straight wins – including three knockouts.
Having extended her winning streak to seven, Todd’s eyes were firmly locked on the undisputed gold. But she would be forced to wait for her opportunity.
Rodrigues returns – almost
Rodrigues vs. Todd was set to go down at ONE Fight Night 5 in December, but the American was forced to withdraw just days before the clash.
Despite suffering from no symptoms, the 37-year-old veteran tested positive for COVID-19 and the wait for her chance at unifying the belts would extend into 2023.
It was a cruel body blow for both fighters, one returning from a long layoff and the other a decorated veteran yearning for undisputed glory.
At Last, The Belts Will Be Unified
On March 24, the wait will finally come to an end.
At ONE Fight Night 8, the ONE atomweight muay Thai world title picture will be clarified in a world-class showcase.
Rodrigues will finally make the walk to the ONE circle for the second time, but on this occasion, she will be fighting for more than a world title. She’ll be fighting to make her son proud.
Meanwhile, Todd will look to firmly establish herself as the greatest striker of her weight class.
Viewers in the U.S. and Canada can watch all the action live and for free with an Amazon Prime membership on March 24.
