Demetrious Johnson returns Dec. 5 for special rules bout vs. muay Thai champ Rodtang Jitmuangnon

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Demetrious Johnson will try something new for his return to combat.

Johnson, the former UFC flyweight champion, has signed on to compete at ONE X on Dec. 5 against muay Thai champ Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a special rules fight. The contest is set for four, three-minute rounds alternating between muay Thai and MMA rules. The fight will start under muay Thai rules and will switch with MMA for the following rounds.

The news was announced by ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong on “The MMA Hour.”

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Johnson, the most dominant champion in UFC flyweight history, returns to action after suffering his first defeat since leaving the UFC in 2018. Johnson was stopped by Adriano Moraes in the second-round of their championship fight. The loss snapped a three-fight winning streak that marked the start of his ONE Championship career.

Johnson’s opponent, Jitmuangnon, is the ONE Championship flyweight muay Thai champ. He’s considered by many to be one of the best pound-for-pound muay Thai fighters today. Jitmuangnon, 24, never has competed under MMA rules. He last fought in April, outpointing Danial Williams at ONE on TNT 1.

Additionally, a pair of title bouts were announced for the Dec. 5 event.

ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes is set to defend his belt against former UFC contender John Lineker; and ONE featherweight champion Thanh Le takes on grappling standout Garry Tonon.