TOKYO, JAPAN — ONE Championship delivered an unforgettable night of high-stakes martial arts action across four distinct disciplines as the promotion returned to the iconic Ariake Arena for ONE SAMURAI 4. The electrifying combat sports spectacle captivated a roaring Tokyo crowd on October 17, 2026, highlighted by a high-profile World Title double-header. Both championship bouts ended in devastating fashion, with reigning division rulers Jonathan Haggerty and Nadaka Yoshinari securing jaw-dropping knockouts that earned them matching US$100,000 performance bonuses personally awarded by ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
From lightning-fast technical displays to explosive, momentum-shifting finishes, the card showcased the very best of global martial arts talent. But it was the championship headliners who ultimately stole the show, cementing their legacies and sending shockwaves through the bantamweight and atomweight landscapes.
Haggerty Stops Akimoto in Epic Bantamweight Kickboxing Thriller
In the blockbuster main event of the evening, reigning ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty stepped into enemy territory to face former divisional kingpin Hiroki Akimoto. What promised to be a technical masterclass quickly evolved into a high-octane battle of attrition, with Haggerty forced to weather early flashes of danger before executing a scintillating technical knockout.
From the opening bell, Haggerty operated behind a crisp, slick boxing foundation, displaying elusive footwork and blistering hand speed that completely dictated the pace of the contest. The British superstar utilized his lateral movement to step in and out of the pocket, stinging the Japanese challenger with sharp combinations. However, Akimoto proved to be as resilient as ever, stubbornly standing his ground and occasionally cracking the champion with heavy power shots that kept the Ariake Arena crowd on the edge of their seats.
The pivotal turning point arrived in the third frame. As Akimoto pressed forward in search of an opening, “The General” masterfully intercepted the advancing challenger with a crushing left knee right down the middle. The pinpoint strike caught Akimoto flush, sending him crashing heavily to the canvas. Sensing the end was near, Haggerty wasted no time, immediately swarming his visibly compromised opponent with a ferocious, bout-ending flurry of punches.
The ruthless assault left Akimoto defenseless against the cage, prompting his corner to bravely throw in the towel to protect their fighter. The referee swiftly intervened to wave off the contest at the 0:42 mark of the third round. The dominant TKO victory further cemented Haggerty’s status as the undisputed king of the bantamweight kickboxing division, proving once again why he remains one of the most feared and dynamic strikers on the planet.
Nadaka Flattens Masdor to Retain Atomweight Muay Thai Crown
In the co-main event, Japanese striking phenom Nadaka Yoshinari delivered a performance for the history books, successfully defending his ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title with a spectacular highlight-reel finish of Malaysian prodigy Rifdean “Magic Boy” Masdor.
Masdor had traveled to Tokyo with immense momentum, carrying the reputation of a dangerous finisher and hunting for a monumental upset on foreign soil. The challenger came out firing, showcasing the explosive knockout power that had earned him global recognition early in the bout. Despite the early pressure, the reigning champion remained remarkably calm and calculated. Nadaka methodically read his opponent’s movements, rapidly deciphering Masdor’s unique rhythm and closing the physical distance with surgical precision.
After dropping the resilient Malaysian challenger with a lightning-quick left hook in the opening frame, Nadaka definitively closed the show in the second round. As Masdor pressed forward aggressively once again to try and claw his way back into the fight, Nadaka uncorked a perfectly timed left head kick. The kick landed with devastating impact, instantly separating the challenger from his senses and bringing a sudden halt to the contest at the 0:58 mark of round two.
The flawless title defense reinforced Nadaka’s dominance in the atomweight division and earned him a well-deserved share of the evening’s performance bonuses, capping off a stellar night for Japanese martial arts.
Complete ONE SAMURAI 4 Match Results
The undercard and main card preliminary bouts set a blazing pace for the championship encounters, featuring a diverse mix of kickboxing, mixed martial arts, submission grappling, and striking battles.
In featherweight kickboxing action, Masaaki Noiri edged out Mohammad Siasarani via a hard-fought split decision after three competitive rounds. Meanwhile, Nabil Anane put on a tactical masterclass to defeat Yuki Yoza via unanimous decision in their bantamweight kickboxing clash.
In the mixed martial arts sphere, fan favorite Itsuki Hirata returned to the win column, securing a clean unanimous decision victory over Jihin Radzuan in an atomweight showdown. The lightweight kickboxing division also saw a thunderous finish, as Sinsamut Klinmee starched Shintaro Matsukura with a devastating head kick knockout at 1:17 of the second round.
Earlier in the evening, Kota Abe thrilled the home crowd by stopping Shozo Isojima via first-round TKO due to punches at 1:34 of their lightweight MMA encounter. In strawweight kickboxing, Shoma Okumura earned a unanimous decision nod over Toki Tamaru. The flyweight MMA bracket featured a rapid finish, with Ryoto Nishiyama overwhelming Yu Takeuchi en route to a first-round knockout via right hook and ground-and-pound at the 0:58 mark. Opening up the action on the card, Masaki Takeura secured a submission victory over Yoshinari Fukushima via a slick heel hook at 5:13 of the very first round in a lightweight submission grappling contest.
