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ONE Championship is putting together one of its most Japanese focused cards of the year. ONE SAMURAI 4 takes place on October 17 at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, with Jonathan Haggerty’s bantamweight kickboxing title defense against former champion Hiroki Akimoto headlining an increasingly stacked event. The card has now received three additional Japan vs. Japan matchups, giving local MMA talent a major platform in front of a home crowd.
The latest additions include Shozo Isojima vs. Kota Abe in lightweight MMA, Yu Takeuchi vs. Ryoto Nishiyama in flyweight MMA and a lightweight submission grappling contest between Yoshinari Fukushima and Masaki Takeura.
With multiple world title fights, tournament semifinals and a growing list of Japanese fighters, ONE SAMURAI 4 is shaping up as a major showcase for the country’s next generation of combat sports talent.
Hiroki Akimoto Wants His ONE Championship Belt Back
The biggest fight on the card remains Haggerty vs. Akimoto. Haggerty will defend the ONE bantamweight kickboxing championship against Akimoto, the Japanese fighter who previously held the same title. The bout gives Akimoto the opportunity to reclaim the belt he lost four years ago.
The 34 year old Japanese contender enters the fight on a three fight winning streak, having defeated John Lineker, Wei Rui and Taimu Hisai. Those victories rebuilt his momentum after a difficult stretch earlier in his ONE career and earned him another opportunity at the championship.
Akimoto believes the version of himself entering this fight is significantly better than the fighter Haggerty may remember.
“I’ll be a tougher opponent for him.”
The Japanese veteran also believes his experience against elite opposition will allow him to push Haggerty into unfamiliar territory.
Haggerty Expects a Different Kind of Challenge
Haggerty is not underestimating his opponent. The British champion has followed Akimoto’s career for years and has repeatedly expressed his desire to fight him. Haggerty said the matchup is particularly appealing because of the styles involved.
“I feel like our styles will gel well together, and it’ll provide a good, explosive fight for the fans.”
Haggerty enters with a 24 – 5 professional record and remains undefeated in kickboxing competition under the ONE Championship banner. He captured the bantamweight kickboxing championship in November 2023 and is now preparing for another defense in Tokyo.
The champion also knows that he will be walking into hostile territory. Akimoto will have the Japanese crowd behind him, but Haggerty does not believe that support will decide the contest.
“They can’t help him when he’s in there.”
That makes the main event particularly intriguing. Akimoto has the home advantage and a three fight winning streak, while Haggerty enters as the champion with considerable experience against the division’s elite.
Shozo Isojima Gets Another Major Test
The MMA portion of the card is also attracting plenty of attention. Shozo Isojima will face Kota Abe in a lightweight matchup, with the fight providing another opportunity for the Japanese fighter to build on the biggest win of his career.
Isojima enters with a 7 – 2 record and has developed from a judo based fighter into a more complete mixed martial artist.
His biggest recent breakthrough came at The Inner Circle 21, where he recovered from an early knockdown to stop former ONE lightweight champion Eduard Folayang. That victory changed the trajectory of his career.
Isojima now wants to establish himself as a consistent force in ONE’s lightweight division and eventually earn another opportunity against the fighters who previously defeated him.
Standing across from him will be Abe, who owns a 6 – 1 record. Abe made his ONE debut in April and immediately made an impression by stopping Hero Marco Manguray in the third round. This gives Isojima another difficult test against a fellow Japanese fighter who is also trying to establish himself.
Undefeated Yu Takeuchi Makes ONE Debut
Another Japanese prospect will also have an opportunity to make a statement. Yu Takeuchi will make his ONE Championship debut against Ryoto Nishiyama in a flyweight MMA matchup.
Takeuchi arrives with an undefeated 4 – 0 record and a wrestling heavy style built around top control and constant pressure. However, his debut opponent presents a serious danger. Nishiyama is coming off a devastating first round knockout of Geun Ho Son at ONE Friday Fights 168 and possesses both sharp counter striking and submission ability.
The matchup therefore gives Takeuchi an immediate test against an opponent with finishing ability. For the undefeated prospect, a victory could provide the perfect introduction to ONE’s global roster.
Another Japanese Battle on the Grappling Card
The latest announcement also adds a lightweight submission grappling matchup between Yoshinari Fukushima and Masaki Takeura.
Both fighters will be making their promotional debuts, giving each man an opportunity to establish himself on one of the biggest martial arts stages in the world.
Although the contest is not an MMA fight, its inclusion strengthens the Japanese identity of the event and adds another style to a card already featuring MMA, Muay Thai and kickboxing.
ONE SAMURAI 4 Is Becoming a Showcase for Japanese Fighters
The additions come on top of an already loaded card. Alongside Haggerty vs. Akimoto, ONE SAMURAI 4 features Nadaka vs. Rifdean Masdor for the atomweight Muay Thai title and the semifinals of the ONE SAMURAI featherweight kickboxing tournament.
The tournament semifinals will see Masaaki Noiri vs. Mohammad Siasarani and Marat Grigorian vs. Luo Chao, with the winners moving closer to an opportunity to challenge for the ONE featherweight kickboxing championship.
Other Japanese names on the card include Itsuki Hirata, Yuki Yoza, Shintaro Matsukura, Toki Tamaru and Shoma Okumura. The event will also feature the ONE Hall of Fame induction of Takeru Segawa, adding another major Japanese connection to the night.
A Major Night for Japanese MMA
ONE SAMURAI 4 is becoming more than another major event in Tokyo. For Akimoto, it is a chance to reclaim a championship he once held. For Haggerty, it is an opportunity to defend his title against one of the division’s most experienced challengers. For Isojima and Abe, the fight could determine which Japanese lightweight emerges with greater momentum. For Takeuchi, it is the beginning of his ONE Championship journey.
With the event now featuring several Japanese fighters across MMA, kickboxing, Muay Thai and grappling, October 17 could become one of the biggest showcases of Japanese combat sports talent in ONE Championship this year.
Full ONE SAMURAI 4 Card
Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship
• Jonathan Haggerty vs. Hiroki Akimoto
Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship
• Nadaka Yoshinari vs. Rifdean Masdor
Featherweight Kickboxing
• Masaaki Noiri vs. Mohammad Siasarani
Featherweight Kickboxing
• Marat Grigorian vs. Luo Chao
Lightweight Kickboxing
• Rukiya Anpo vs. Bogdan Shumarov
Atomweight MMA
• Itsuki Hirata vs. Jihin Radzuan
Bantamweight Kickboxing
• Yuki Yoza vs. Nabil Anane
Lightweight Kickboxing
• Shintaro Matsukura vs. Sinsamut Klinmee
Lightweight MMA
• Shozo Isojima vs. Kota Abe
Strawweight Kickboxing
• Toki Tamaru vs. Shoma Okumura
Flyweight MMA
• Yu Takeuchi vs. Ryoto Nishiyama
Lightweight Submission Grappling
• Yoshinari Fukushima vs. Masaki Takeura
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