Winning a world title in combat sports is a monumental achievement, but reclaiming one is often regarded as an even more daunting challenge. Hiroki Akimoto is about to find out just how steep that mountain is, though he will have the distinct advantage of fighting in front of an impassioned home crowd when the global martial arts stage descends upon Japan’s capital.
On Saturday, October 17, ONE Championship makes its highly anticipated return with ONE SAMURAI 4, broadcasting live from the iconic Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The stacked 12-bout card is a comprehensive showcase of elite striking and mixed martial arts, featuring two high-stakes world championship matches, a pair of pivotal featherweight kickboxing tournament semifinals, and an abundance of top-tier Japanese stars looking to make a definitive statement on the international stage.
At the center of this blockbuster event is a compelling main event that pits reigning divisional kingpin Jonathan Haggerty against former titleholder Hiroki Akimoto. Haggerty will put his prestigious ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship on the line, stepping into enemy territory to face a motivated challenger eager to restore his legacy. The British superstar is currently seeking his third successful defense of the belt, having already turned back formidable challenges from elite strikers like Wei Rui and Yuki Yoza. On the other side of the ring, Akimoto is looking to recapture the very gold he held in 2022, setting the stage for a classic clash of styles and championship pedigree inside the Ariake Arena.
The Bantamweight Crown and the Champions’ Paths
Haggerty remains undefeated under the specific kickboxing ruleset within ONE Championship, a testament to his exceptional adaptability and high-level striking acumen. His unique ability to seamlessly combine razor-sharp footwork with a powerful, multi-layered offensive arsenal has successfully carried him through two grueling title defenses. However, the champion faces a demanding assignment in Tokyo, as Akimoto brings both deep championship experience and a surging wave of recent momentum into the contest.
Akimoto’s journey back to a world title opportunity was far from easy. The Japanese standout endured a difficult competitive stretch following his loss of the bantamweight throne, facing intense adversity against the division’s elite. Rather than letting the setback derail his career, Akimoto systematically rebuilt his standing in the division. He engineered a crucial career resurgence by stringing together impressive victories over veteran standout John Lineker, elite contender Wei Rui, and tough Japanese striker Taimu Hisai. That hard-fought run of success ultimately earned the former champion another coveted opportunity at the belt, elevating the stakes as he attempts to reclaim divisional supremacy on home soil.
The strategic dynamic of the main event centers on pacing and control. For Akimoto, the primary challenge will be applying relentless, calculated pressure without allowing Haggerty to dictate the rhythm and range of the exchanges. For Haggerty, securing another successful defense against a former champion would further solidify his dominant hold over a bantamweight division that continues to fill up with dangerous, highly accomplished challengers from around the world.
Co-Main Event World Title Action and Elite Grappling
The co-main event features another proud Japanese champion putting his belt on the line, as undefeated prodigy Nadaka Yoshinari defends his ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship against rising Malaysian contender Rifdean Masdor.
Nadaka enters this high-profile championship defense riding an extraordinary 42-fight winning streak that stretches all the way back to 2019. His technical mastery and composure under fire have made him one of the most dominant forces in the lighter weight classes. He captured ONE’s inaugural atomweight Muay Thai championship last November in a historic performance and successfully made his first defense this past April. Saturday night offers Nadaka a golden opportunity to further extend his remarkable winning run and retain his coveted belt in front of a supportive Japanese audience.
Standing across the ring from the champion is Rifdean Masdor, a dangerous challenger who brings a five-fight winning streak and the devastating one-punch power necessary to orchestrate a major upset. The Malaysian standout earned his full-time ONE Championship contract in spectacular fashion by scoring a blistering 94-second knockout victory over Javad Mozafari in June. Now, Rifdean faces by far the steepest test of his young career: finding a way to puncture Nadaka’s notoriously airtight timing and precise technical control.
The Road to Superbon in the Featherweight Grand Prix
The action-packed card also features the progression of the featherweight kickboxing tournament, moving the division one step closer to determining who will ultimately challenge the reigning divisional king, Superbon. Two high-stakes semifinal matchups will unfold in Tokyo, with Masaaki Noiri facing Mohammad Siasarani in the first bracket, and Marat Grigorian locking horns with Luo Chao in the second.
Noiri earned his spot in the semifinals by delivering a definitive knockout victory over Liu Mengyang this past August, successfully avenging a previous career defeat. The former interim champion now meets a dangerous Iranian contender who is currently riding a wave of six consecutive victories. Siasarani’s momentum includes a stunning, lightning-fast 97-second head-kick knockout of Kaito Ono in the tournament quarterfinals, signaling that he possesses the finishing power to trouble any elite striker.
On the other side of the tournament bracket, veteran powerhouse Marat Grigorian brings a four-fight winning streak into his high-stakes meeting with Luo Chao, having most recently defeated Mamuka Usubyan in August. Luo advanced to this stage of the tournament by earning a hard-fought decision victory over Kosuke Takagi, entering the semifinal matchup on a strong three-fight winning streak. Defeating an experienced veteran of Grigorian’s caliber would represent the biggest statement of Luo’s career to date, while the Armenian stalwart remains firmly focused on securing another shot at Superbon and capturing world championship gold.
High-Stakes Striking and Supporting Bouts in Tokyo
The rest of the main card and preliminary lineup are packed with compelling matchups featuring top-tier international and domestic talent. In a high-profile bantamweight kickboxing clash, Yuki Yoza looks to bounce back as he faces former bantamweight Muay Thai champion Nabil Anane. Yoza previously suffered a title-fight loss to Jonathan Haggerty but quickly rebounded by securing a victory over Ben Woolliss. Anane, meanwhile, enters the bout seeking to halt a difficult two-fight skid, creating a fascinating stylistic clash between two elite strikers who both have plenty to prove inside the ring.
In the lightweight kickboxing division, Rukiya Anpo moves up in weight to face Bogdan Shumarov. Anpo is eager to bounce back following a setback in his promotional debut against Marat Grigorian. Fellow Japanese striker Shintaro Matsukura will also make his much-anticipated promotional debut on the card, welcoming the heavy-handed Sinsamut Klinmee, whose proven power provides an immediate and formidable test for the newcomer.
The event’s mixed martial arts action features a compelling atomweight rematch between promotional staples Itsuki Hirata and Jihin Radzuan, adding an extra layer of grappling intrigue to the evening. The rest of the card showcases a deep lineup of preliminary talent, featuring Shozo Isojima squaring off against Kota Abe, Toki Tamaru meeting Shoma Okumura, Yu Takeuchi taking on Ryoto Nishiyama, and Yoshinari Fukushima facing Masaki Takeura in competitive domestic contests.
In addition to the athletic competition, ONE Championship will take a moment to celebrate martial arts history during the event. The organization will honor Japanese striking icon Takeru Segawa with a special induction into the ONE Hall of Fame, accompanied by a formal retirement ceremony to commemorate his legendary career in combat sports.
Combat sports fans around the world will have multiple ways to tune into the action. The first three preliminary bouts of ONE SAMURAI 4 will be broadcast live and free of charge across ONE Championship’s official YouTube and Facebook channels, as well as on live.onefc.com, beginning on Saturday, October 17, at 2:30 a.m. ET. The remainder of the stacked 12-bout card will stream exclusively on live.onefc.com for viewers worldwide.
