5 Explosive Reasons To Watch ONE SAMURAI 4 On October 17

October 11, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

ONE Championship brings one of its biggest shows of the year back to Tokyo, and the card has the absolute star power to match the special occasion.

ONE SAMURAI 4 lands at the iconic Ariake Arena on Saturday, October 17, with explosive bouts across Muay Thai, kickboxing, submission grappling, and MMA.

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The lineup features the best of Japan, from established warriors to hungry up-and-comers, alongside a world-class international contingent eager to crash the party on Japanese soil.

From the first bell to the last, here are five electrifying reasons to circle the date as the world’s largest martial arts organization returns to “The Land of the Rising Sun” this week.

#1 A Main Event Where Gold And Redemption Collide

Jonathan “The General” Haggerty arrives in Tokyo for the third defense of his ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title, and the Englishman carries himself like a man who has yet to meet his match in the sport.

The 29-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound strikers on the planet. A former ONE Flyweight and Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion, he added a third belt to his collection by flattening Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade in the second round at ONE Fight Night 16 in November 2023.

Since then, he has remained unbeaten in kickboxing inside ONE, with defenses against Wei Rui and, most recently, Yuki Yoza in a five-round war at ONE SAMURAI 1.

Standing in his way is a man who knows exactly what it feels like to sit on that throne. Hiroki Akimoto captured the crown with a solid five-round display back at ONE X in March 2022 before enduring a difficult stretch after losing it.

2025 brought the turnaround, though, with wins over former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker and Wei, followed by a split decision over fellow Japanese dynamo Taimu Hisai earlier this year that confirmed him as the rightful challenger.

A perfect kickboxing run on one side, a former king chasing his old throne on the other, and a home crowd behind the challenger: these are the ingredients of a World Title fight fans will be talking about for years.

#2 Muay Thai’s Gold Standard Meets A Dangerous Finisher

Reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka Yoshinari steps in for his second assignment as the divisional king with a 42-fight winning streak and more than seven years without a loss.

The 25-year-old claimed the inaugural belt against Thai standout Numsurin Chor Ketwina at ONE 173 in November last year, then outpointed longtime rival Songchainoi “Mini-Hulk” Kiatsongrit across five fast-paced rounds at ONE SAMURAI 1.

Blinding speed, southpaw precision, and defensive mastery have made him one of the most technically gifted fighters of the modern era, but he could be forced to work extra hard as he chases a 43rd consecutive win against the dangerous Rifdean “Magic Boy” Masdor.

The 23-year-old knockout artist has been nearly flawless under the ONE banner. The Malaysian striker carries a 7-1 record, five straight wins, a 71 percent finish rate, and an average fight time of just four and a half minutes. His latest outing, a first-round finish of Javad Mozafari, earned him a life-changing US$100,000 main roster contract.

For Nadaka, the stakes are historic. Another successful defense would further cement his place among the greatest Muay Thai athletes Japan has ever produced.

The stakes are far bigger in the opposite corner: handing the Eiwa Sports Gym product his first defeat in years would make Rifdean only the second ONE World Champion from Malaysia, following in the footsteps of recently crowned interim strawweight Muay Thai king Aliff Sor Dechapan.

Pair a dominant streak that long with a fighter built to finish, and fireworks are inevitable.

#3 Four Fearless Warriors Chasing Tournament Glory

Between the two marquee World Title fights, ONE SAMURAI 4 hosts four of the most dangerous kickboxers in the world — all thirsting for glory in the semifinals of the prestigious ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament.

Three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion Marat Grigorian meets “The Handsome White Dragon” Luo Chao in the first of the two highly anticipated matchups. The 35-year-old Armenian powerhouse arrives with 71 career wins built on his hallmark pressure, heavy hands, and an intimidating aura.

He booked his spot in the final four with a crushing unanimous decision over Mamuka Usubyan at The Inner Circle 25. Luo, meanwhile, showed his resolve at ONE SAMURAI 2 just a day later, surviving a tough middle stretch against Kosuke “Unstoppable Phoenix” Takagi before breaking through with a late barrage to take the decision.

The other side of the bracket brings its own brand of chaos as former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri locks horns against Iranian bruiser Mohammad Siasarani.

Noiri stormed through his quarterfinal with a first-round knockout of “Spirit Dragon” Liu Mengyang, avenging an earlier loss and taking home a US$100,000 bonus. The 24-year-old Siasarani, on the other hand, delivered a highlight-reel moment of his own with a stunning head kick finish of Kaito in his 10th promotional triumph.

A spot in the final is on the line, and the tournament winner will earn the prestigious silver belt and a guaranteed shot at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.

Whichever way the bracket shakes out, fans are guaranteed non-stop entertainment here.

#4 World Title Dreams Take Flight In Tokyo

Tokyo could hand out more than wins on this card, because the next challengers for 26 pounds of gold may be decided right here across two high-stakes kickboxing battles.

Yuki Yoza meets Nabil Anane in a bantamweight showdown with heavy World Title implications. The former K-1 Champion, who capped a 3-0 run in ONE with a dominant win over “The Kicking Machine” Superlek, came up short against Haggerty at ONE SAMURAI 1 but bounced back with an impressive unanimous decision over Ben “The Problem” Woolliss this past July.

Anane, the former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion, brings his towering 6-foot-4 stature and versatile striking to a matchup that pits Yoza’s precision and calf kicks against reach. A win would put either man in the conversation for the divisional gold.

In lightweight kickboxing action, Rukiya “Demolition Man” Anpo returns for his sophomore ONE outing after falling short against Grigorian in his debut at ONE 173 inside the same venue. The former K-1 Champion has the hands and the power to make a statement, and he is eager to show he belongs on this stage as he moves up to lightweight.

Standing in his way is Bulgarian tank Bogdan Shumarov, who has looked nothing short of entertaining throughout his tenure on the global stage. The hard-hitting striker has wrapped all his promotional victories in highlight-reel fashion, so don’t be surprised if another follows suit.

Waiting at the top is two-sport ONE Lightweight World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel, and whoever wins will make a strong case for the next chance at his gold.

Different divisions, same prize: a seat at the table when the next World Title fights are made.

#5 A Legend Enshrined, A Nation Fighting On

Few names carry more weight in Japanese combat sports than Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa, and ONE SAMURAI 4 gives him the send-off he deserves.

The three-division K-1 Champion retired with a 46-5 record after stopping Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon in the fifth round to win the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE SAMURAI 1. He will be inducted into the ONE Hall of Fame and receive a 10-gong salute.

He is the fourth name to receive the honor, following fellow ex-ONE World Champions Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, and “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang.

While “Natural Born Krusher” takes his place in history, the rest of Japan’s best will be competing with something to prove. Itsuki “Android 18” Hirata is looking to make a statement when she runs it back with Malaysian rival Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan in atomweight MMA action.

K-1 Champion Shintaro Matsukura, meanwhile, opens his promotional account in a lightweight kickboxing bout against former ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title challenger Sinsamut “Aquaman” Klinmee.

In addition to that, a quartet of all-Japanese matchups should get the night off to a flyer. Shozo “Great Teacher” Isojima takes on Kota Abe in lightweight MMA, Toki Tamaru faces Shoma Okumura in strawweight kickboxing, Yu Takeuchi and Ryoto Nishiyama duke it out in flyweight MMA, while Yoshinari Fukushima meets Masaki Takeura in lightweight submission grappling.

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