This Friday night at ONE Fight Night 33, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, Rodrigues faces her greatest test yet in WBC Muay Thai World Champion Johanna Persson. It’s a collision of champions, with only one walking away as the undisputed queen of the division.
But if you’re looking for signs of vulnerability in the defending champion, you’re searching in the wrong place.
“The most important thing is always on the line – my belt,” Rodrigues said. “And no one is taking it from me.”
The 27-year-old mother has transformed the title defense into an art form, systematically dismantling elite competition since ripping the crown from Stamp Fairtex’s grasp in 2020. Former champions, hungry contenders, and rising stars have all fallen victim to her relentless pressure and fight-ending power. This fourth defense isn’t just another day at the office – it’s another brick in the fortress she’s built around her legacy.
Rodrigues understands the psychology of championship fighting better than most. Every challenger arrives with the desperation of someone who knows they may never get another shot at gold. That hunger can be dangerous, but it can also be exploited by a champion who has learned to feed off that energy.
“Every title defense is very important to me. There’s no such thing as an easier or harder fight. I always feel the same pressure in all of them. I always give everything in every training camp,” she said.
“I feel like I always have to do more because I know how hungry my opponents are to take my belt.”
But hunger means nothing without the technical ability to execute, and Rodrigues has been dissecting Persson’s game like a surgeon preparing for a complex operation. The Swedish challenger brings impressive credentials and a dangerous clinch game, but the Brazilian has identified cracks in the armor.
“I believe her clinch game is a strong point, and I noticed she also throws elbows and likes to apply pressure during the fight,” Rodrigues said. “I saw in some videos that her guard is quite open, and she also opens up a bit when throwing punches. I’ll definitely use my boxing and kicks to capitalize on that.”
Perhaps most frightening for Persson is that Rodrigues enters this fight more prepared than she’s ever been. Originally scheduled to defend against Israeli standout Shir Cohen, the champion was forced to endure consecutive training camps when that bout was canceled due to injury. Where others might see exhaustion, Rodrigues sees opportunity.
“It didn’t affect me at all. In fact, I’m going in even more prepared. Two back-to-back training camps – my body is firing on all cylinders. My mindset and focus are always the same,” she said.
The extended preparation has sharpened every weapon in her already devastating arsenal. Her last outing saw her deliver a brutal knockout victory over Marie McManamon, and she’s targeting another highlight-reel finish that will send a message to the rest of the division.
“I really like to visualize my arm being raised,” Rodrigues said. “We need to believe in ourselves. I work hard in every training camp, and this is the first time I’ve done two back-to-back camps with no rest. I’m going in to get another knockout.”
