ONE Championship returned to the combat sports capital of Japan on Saturday, Oct. 17, delivering a night of elite world-class action with ONE SAMURAI 4. Emanating live from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, the blockbuster showcase brought together an international roster of elite martial artists competing across four distinct disciplines: mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling. Broadcast globally to fans and streaming live on live.onefc.com beginning at 12:30 a.m. ET, the event unfolded before an electric Japanese audience that witnessed championship crowning moments, dramatic tournament battles, thunderous first-round stoppages, and an emotional tribute honoring one of kickboxing’s all-time greats.
Headlining the card was a long-awaited championship showdown under kickboxing rules, as reigning bantamweight titleholder Jonathan Haggerty put his crown on the line against Japanese standout Hiroki Akimoto. Entering the ring on hostile territory, Haggerty faced a difficult test against Akimoto, a former divisional champion renowned for his precision, relentless pressure, and punishing combinations. The bout delivered top-tier striking from the opening bell, but Haggerty quickly found his timing and began penetrating Akimoto’s defenses with sharp counters and authoritative combinations.
By the third frame, Haggerty seized total control of the engagement. Backing Akimoto toward the ropes, the British superstar unleashed a devastating sequence of punches before driving home a crushing knee. The referee swiftly stepped in to wave off the contest at the 0:42 mark of Round 3, awarding Haggerty a sensational technical knockout victory. With this commanding performance, Haggerty successfully defended his bantamweight kickboxing championship, silencing the Tokyo crowd while cementing his place atop the striking landscape.
In the co-main event, championship gold was also on the line as Japanese phenom Nadaka Yoshinari squared off against rising challenger Rifdean Masdor for the atomweight Muay Thai world championship. Recognized as one of the most technically gifted strikers in modern combat sports, Yoshinari embraced the energy of his home supporters and controlled distance from the outset. Masdor attempted to mount offense and break through Yoshinari’s guard, but the Japanese prodigy remained composed, calculating his openings with surgical poise.
The decisive blow arrived early in the second round. Reading Masdor’s movement, Yoshinari unleashed a lightning-fast head kick that connected cleanly, sending shockwaves through the challenger and leaving the referee no choice but to intervene. The official stoppage came at just 0:58 of Round 2, awarding Yoshinari the TKO victory and crowning him the atomweight Muay Thai champion in spectacular fashion inside Ariake Arena.
Beyond the championship bouts, the kickboxing ranks provided relentless drama, highlighted by the continuation of the high-stakes ONE Samurai featherweight kickboxing tournament semifinal between Japanese veteran Masaaki Noiri and Iranian contender Mohammad Siasarani. The matchup developed into an intricate, back-and-forth tactical battle that stretched across all three rounds. Noiri relied on his patient stance, heavy low kicks, and counterpunching ability, while Siasarani countered with unpredictable angles, explosive bursts, and unrelenting pressure. Neither fighter was willing to concede ground, making every exchange crucial. When the final bell sounded, the contest was sent to the judges’ scorecards, where Noiri emerged with a hard-fought split decision victory, advancing further in the prestigious tournament and surviving one of the stiffest tests of his run.
The kickboxing division delivered another major encounter as towering phenom Nabil Anane clashed with Japanese standout Yuki Yoza. Utilizing his extraordinary height and reach advantages, Anane effectively dictated the rhythm of the bout, launching piercing straight strikes and long-range kicks to disrupt Yoza’s game plan. Yoza pressed forward with courage and attempted to bridge the distance with aggressive combinations, but Anane repeatedly reset his position and picked him apart from the outside. After three disciplined rounds of kickboxing action, all three judges awarded the bout to Anane, who took home a well-earned unanimous decision.
The Tokyo crowd was treated to one of the night’s most emphatic highlight finishes when Thailand’s Sinsamut Klinmee crossed paths with Japanese veteran Shintaro Matsukura in a featherweight kickboxing affair. Matsukura sought to test Klinmee in the pocket, but the Thai striker’s devastating power proved to be the ultimate equalizer. At 1:17 of the second round, Sinsamut uncorked a thunderous head kick that caught Matsukura flush, instantly halting the contest and securing an explosive knockout victory that brought the arena to its feet.
Kickboxing action continued with a domestic clash between Shoma Okumura and Toki Tamaru. The three-round battle featured furious pace and clean exchanges, as both Japanese competitors traded dynamic combinations in search of divisional momentum. Okumura consistently found the cleaner, more impactful strikes throughout the duration of the contest, which earned him the favor of all three judges and a unanimous decision triumph over Tamaru.
The mixed martial arts portion of the card provided equally memorable drama, highlighted by the return of popular Japanese contender Itsuki Hirata, who faced off against longtime Malaysian standout Jihin Radzuan in an atomweight clash. Both women entered the ring looking to make an emphatic statement in one of the organization’s deepest divisions. Over the course of three demanding rounds, Hirata blended technical grappling, clinch control, and timely striking to neutralize Radzuan’s well-rounded offense. While Radzuan remained dangerous until the final horn, Hirata’s sustained dominance and superior ground control carried the day, earning her a unanimous decision victory in front of an appreciative home audience.
Earlier in the evening, the MMA action delivered swift, highlight-reel finishes that electrified the Ariake Arena. In a fast-paced matchup, Kota Abe wasted little time establishing his physical presence against Shozo Isojima. Abe swarmed his opponent with aggressive pressure, backing Isojima up and landing a barrage of accurate, unanswered punches on the canvas to force the referee stoppage at just 1:34 of the opening round.
The night’s fastest MMA finish belonged to Ryoto Nishiyama, who required less than a single minute to dispatch Yu Takeuchi. Opening the bout with supreme confidence, Nishiyama caught Takeuchi with a blistering, pinpoint punch that brought a sudden end to the bout at the 0:58 mark of Round 1, earning Nishiyama a devastating one-punch knockout victory that energized the Tokyo faithful.
The diverse card also placed the spotlight on elite ground fighting through a competitive submission grappling bout between Masaki Takeura and Yoshinari Fukushima. Both grappling specialists engaged in a technical positional duel from the opening seconds, hunting for grips and attempting to impose their ground systems. Takeura eventually seized an opening on the lower limb, transitioning swiftly into leg entanglement and locking in a tight heel hook. Fukushima was left with no choice but to tap out, handing Takeura a textbook submission victory at 5:13 of Round 1.
One of the most poignant moments of the evening took place outside of active competition during a special ceremony celebrating the iconic career of Japanese kickboxing legend Takeru Segawa. Standing before thousands of passionate fans at the Ariake Arena, Takeru was officially honored with his retirement ceremony and formally inducted into the ONE Hall of Fame. The moving tribute celebrated Takeru’s extraordinary contributions to the global martial arts landscape, his historic battles inside the ring, and his lasting influence on striking sports, providing a fittingly grand Tokyo sendoff to an enduring combat sports icon.
FULL RESULTS
Kickboxing: Jonathan Haggerty def. Hiroki Akimoto by TKO (punches and knee). Round 3, 0:42 – for the bantamweight title
Muay Thai: Nadaka Yoshinari def. Rifdean Masdor by TKO (head kick). Round 2, 0:58 – for the atomweight title
Kickboxing: Masaaki Noiri def. Mohammad Siasarani by split decision – ONE Samurai featherweight kickboxing tournament semifinal
Kickboxing: Nabil Anane def. Yuki Yoza by unanimous decision
MMA: Itsuki Hirata def. Jihin Radzuan by unanimous decision
Kickboxing: Sinsamut Klinmee def. Shintaro Matsukura by KO (head kick). Round 2, 1:17
MMA: Kota Abe def. Shozo Isojima by TKO (punches). Round 1, 1:34
Kickboxing: Shoma Okumura def. Toki Tamaru by unanimous decision
MMA: Ryoto Nishiyama def. Yu Takeuchi by KO (punch). Round 1, 0:58
Submission Grappling: Masaki Takeura def. Yoshinari Fukushima by submission (heel hook). Round 1, 5:13
Special Ceremony: Takeru Segawa’s retirement ceremony and ONE Hall of Fame induction
