5 Biggest Takeaways From ONE SAMURAI 1 In Tokyo

ONE SAMURAI 1 inside Tokyo’s state-of-the-art Ariake Arena delivered everything its inaugural billing demanded this past Wednesday, April 29. A legend rode off into the sunset with 26 pounds of gold around his waist. A wrecking ball announced his nation to the world.

A grudge match was settled with a piston-like overhand right. View this post on Instagram From top to bottom, the fight card that featured 15 battles across MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing delivered the kind of performances that announced a new era. With the dust finally settled in Japan, here are the five biggest takeaways from a night that will set the standard for everything that follows in ONE Championship’s new Japanese blockbuster series .

#1 Takeru Writes A Storybook Ending View this post on Instagram Legends bow out in style, and former three-division K-1 Champion Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa did exactly that in the headline attraction of ONE SAMURAI 1. The 34-year-old drew the curtain on a legendary career by exacting revenge against Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon with a knockout for the ages, riding into the sunset with the 46th triumph on his resume and the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title wrapped around his waist. He dropped the Thai star in the second round twice with a pair of stinging left hooks.

He even took a page from Rodtang’s swagger under pressure, offering a shimmy and smile while the former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion sent missiles his way. View this post on Instagram In the fifth round, a stiff right hand sent Rodtang down for a third knockdown. “Natural Born Krusher” kept punching, and when the ropes could no longer hold the Thai upright, the referee waved off the fight at the 2:22 mark of the final stanza, marking Rodtang’s first promotional knockout loss.