Table of Contents
Hyu will have an opportunity to restart his rise in ONE Championship when he faces fellow Japanese striker Hyuma Hitachi at ONE SAMURAI 3 on September 12.
The flyweight kickboxing contest will take place at Yokohama Buntai as ONE Championship stages its third Japanese event of the series. The promotion has confirmed that ONE SAMURAI 3 will feature MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing and submission grappling bouts.
For Hyu, the fight represents an important chance to respond after suffering the first setback of his ONE Championship career. Hitachi, meanwhile, will make his promotional debut with a reputation for aggressive boxing and a willingness to push forward from the opening exchange.
Hyu looks to bounce back after first ONE defeat
Hyu, known as “Mister Pepper,” built considerable momentum during his opening run with ONE Championship.
The 23 year old won his first five appearances on the global stage, with four of those victories coming by knockout. His run included stoppage wins over Leandro Miranda, Zakaria El Jamari, Jordan Estupinan and Suablack Tor Pran49.
That impressive sequence came to an end at ONE SAMURAI 1 when Taiki Naito defeated him by unanimous decision in an all Japanese flyweight kickboxing contest.
ONE’s official results confirm Naito’s victory after three rounds, giving Hyu his first professional defeat.
Hyu’s performance against Naito still showed why he had attracted attention. His speed, unconventional attacks and ability to create openings made the fight competitive, but Naito’s experience allowed him to neutralize much of the younger fighter’s offense.
Now Hyu gets another opportunity to show how he responds to adversity. A victory over Hitachi would put him back on track and could help restore the momentum he built during his five fight winning run.
Hyuma Hitachi makes his ONE Championship debut
Standing across from Hyu will be Hyuma Hitachi, who enters ONE Championship for the first time.
The 28 year old Japanese fighter has developed a reputation around his boxing combinations. According to the available fight information, Hitachi added boxing to his skill set specifically to complement his kickboxing background.
His aggressive approach could create an interesting tactical battle against Hyu.
Hitachi prefers to move forward and throw combinations early, attempting to establish his rhythm before his opponent can settle into the fight. His knockout victory over Yuki Kasahara stands out as an example of the danger he can create when he finds his range.
A victory over a fighter with Hyu’s recent ONE Championship résumé would immediately give Hitachi an important result on his promotional debut.
Two contrasting striking styles
The matchup becomes particularly interesting because Hyu and Hitachi approach kickboxing from different angles.
Hyu relies heavily on movement, speed and improvisation. He has shown an ability to attack from unusual angles and change his rhythm during exchanges.
Hitachi is more direct. His boxing combinations and forward pressure allow him to close distance quickly and force opponents to deal with his hands.
Can Hyu use his movement and creativity to make Hitachi miss and punish him on the counter, or will Hitachi successfully cut off the ring and force Hyu into extended exchanges?
Neither fighter has faced the other previously, meaning both will have to make adjustments based on what happens once the opening exchanges begin.
ONE SAMURAI 3 brings major Japanese talent to Yokohama
The Hyu versus Hitachi matchup is part of a larger card designed to showcase Japanese martial arts talent.
ONE Championship is bringing ONE SAMURAI 3 to Yokohama Buntai on September 12. The promotion says the event will be its first show at the Yokohama venue and will feature athletes competing across multiple martial arts disciplines.
The event will also feature reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka making his kickboxing debut, while Shimon Yoshinari is scheduled to face Suablack Tor Pran49 in a flyweight Muay Thai matchup.
ONE’s official event information currently lists the show for Saturday, September 12, at Yokohama Buntai.
The promotion has positioned the Japanese series as a platform for established champions, rising local talent and international stars.
Hyu has plenty to prove
The September contest could be an important point in Hyu’s development.
Before the loss to Naito, the young Japanese striker had built a perfect five fight run in ONE, including four knockouts. The defeat gave him his first experience of losing on the global stage and provided an opportunity to identify areas of his game that need improvement.
Rather than relying primarily on tactical control, Hitachi is expected to bring an aggressive boxing game and look to pressure Hyu from the opening bell. That could force Hyu to demonstrate whether he can maintain his creativity while dealing with sustained forward pressure.
A successful ONE Championship debut against one of Japan’s emerging striking talents would immediately establish him as a fighter worth watching in the flyweight kickboxing division.
The two Japanese strikers therefore enter ONE SAMURAI 3 with different objectives but a similar opportunity. Hyu wants to restart his momentum, while Hitachi wants to make an immediate impression.
When they meet in Yokohama on September 12, their contrasting styles should provide one of the more intriguing kickboxing matchups on the ONE SAMURAI 3 card.
Your home for Korean MMA news, UFC updates and fighter features. Follow HanPunch.
About The Author
Join the Conversation