When two stars from different worlds crossed paths in Thailand, former six-time ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon came away with some hilarious stories to tell about Hollywood superstar Chris Hemsworth.
The 29-year-old Thai icon met the Australian actor on the set of “Extraction 3” in Ratchaburi, Thailand, on October 19. Rodtang is now preparing to face Nong-O Hama in a ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix quarterfinal bout at The Inner Circle 38 on Friday, November 13, live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium and streaming exclusively for members at live.onefc.com.
Their connection dates back to 2024, when Hemsworth followed Rodtang on Instagram. The actor later sent him a personal video message wishing him luck ahead of his bout against Jacob Smith at ONE 169 that November.
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After staying in touch, the pair finally arranged to meet when Hemsworth traveled to Thailand for filming. Rodtang received special access to the movie set and discovered that the Hollywood megastar was just as welcoming in person as he had been through their online conversations.
Rodtang told onefc.com:
“He’s super sweet. After he finished a scene, he walked over to give me a hug and shake my hand. Whenever he took a break between takes, he’d walk over to chat and invite me to take photos with him.”
While the encounter went smoothly, Rodtang’s journey to meet the actor came with an unexpected complication.
Rodtang was in Malaysia on October 18, a day before their scheduled meeting. A longtime fan of Marvel superheroes who also collects Transformers and Japanese anime memorabilia, he had planned to bring a 3-kilogram replica of Thor’s famous hammer for Hemsworth to autograph.
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However, Rodtang hadn’t anticipated that the souvenir would be subject to aviation security restrictions. When he tried to carry it onto his flight to Thailand, airport officials wouldn’t allow it onboard after identifying it as a prohibited item.
Rodtang said:
“At first, I actually wanted to bring a replica of Thor’s hammer for him to sign so I could display it at home. I didn’t think I’d need to check it in since it only weighed about 3 kilos, but when I went through security, they flagged it as a weapon and wouldn’t let me bring it on board!
“I was like, ‘Bro, it’s just a display model, please help me out!’ but they said no. So I had to leave the hammer behind.”
Photo credit: ONE Championship
Rodtang even considered stopping at a hardware store to purchase an ordinary sledgehammer for Hemsworth to sign, but he decided that might be taking the joke too far.
Instead, he brought a pair of gloves for the actor to autograph and enjoyed watching the production firsthand, including Hemsworth performing his action sequences.
The experience left a lasting impression on the Muay Thai superstar, but the story of his missing hammer would take another unexpected turn after he returned home.
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He said:
“As a kid who used to just buy movie tickets to watch him on screen, getting to see him in action before the movie even comes out was an incredible feeling.
“Once I got home, I messaged him saying I forgot the hammer, and he replied, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll send you one of the hammers.'”
Hemsworth Jokes About Making Rodtang His Stunt Double
Beyond their social media connection, the two stars also share a passion for martial arts, which made Chris Hemsworth’s latest action movie an ideal setting for their first meeting.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon, who has built his reputation on relentless aggression and spectacular striking, couldn’t resist offering some playful advice as he watched the actor rehearse his fight scenes.
Their lighthearted exchange even prompted Hemsworth to joke about bringing him into the world of Hollywood action filmmaking.
Rodtang said:
“We were messing around and joking with each other on set. While he was rehearsing his action scenes, I’d offer advice like, ‘You should throw your strikes like this instead,’ just putting myself out there!
“He laughed and said, ‘Why don’t you come join as my stunt double? Come on!’ I said, ‘Let’s do it!’ He also told me that the next time he gets a chance, he wants to come watch me fight in person. He was filming every single day until he flew back on the 24th, but he even invited me to go to the US in December. We chat all the time now.”
The meeting also revealed how much the pair have in common outside their respective professions, particularly their commitment to family. Rodtang was impressed by Hemsworth’s familiarity with his personal life, including his support for English football club Manchester United. The actor also shared photographs of their meeting with his millions of Instagram followers.
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For “The Iron Man,” the recognition was another memorable moment in a career that has taken him from Thailand’s Muay Thai circuit to international stardom.
Rodtang hopes their next encounter could take place at a ONE Championship event, where Hemsworth would have the opportunity to watch him compete in person.
Rodtang said:
“He told me how much he loves and takes care of his family, which is the exact same for me. He even knew that I’m a Manchester United fan. Thank you so much for paying attention to the little details like that!
“I hope that in the future, whenever I have my next title fight, [he] can come watch me live at ONE Championship!”
Photo credit: ONE Championship
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
