ONE Championship will return to Japan for ONE 165: Rodtang vs. Takeru on Sunday, January 28. The event may be headlined by a kickboxing dream bout, but mixed martial arts will also be heavily featured on the card. On Monday, the promotion announced the addition of four MMA bouts to the lineup.
As Stamp Fairtex stands atop the atomweight division, Japanese stars Itsuki Hirata and Ayaka Miura will look to stand out from the field during their atomweight meeting. Miura is coming off an impressive showing against Meng Bo and will be dropping down in weight for this match. Hirata hopes to stop her ascent and get back in the win column.
Locked and loaded 🔒 Four more action-packed clashes join the lineup for ONE 165 in Tokyo! 🇯🇵 What other fights would you like to see on the card?@_itsuki_h_ @ayk917m @Hirobad724 @mackeymen84 #ONE165 | January 28
🎟️ Tickets 👉 https://t.co/9BTfk5i7f8
🌍 Global broadcast… pic.twitter.com/VP3Oe536S6— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) December 18, 2023
Top flyweight contenders Danny Kingad and Yuya Wakamatsu will also try to show out inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Kingad, ranked as the #2-flyweight contender, will try to turn away #4-ranked Wakamatsu. Both men are trying to build off of recent victories to position themselves for a shot at the title.
The other two announced bouts will take place in the strawweight division. As ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks defends the title against Joshua Pacio at ONE 166, these four contenders will try to make their best case to be next in line. #2-ranked contender Bokang Masunyane meets Keito Yamakita and #3-ranked Hiroba Minowa battles #4 Gustavo Balart.
Minowa has come up just short against the division’s elite but hopes a victory can put him back on the path toward the top. Balart is enjoying momentum being on his side with three straight wins. Another victory could make the Cuban wrestling phenom undeniable as he makes his bid for contention.
Yamakita has been unbeaten in his professional career and made an immediate impact in his ONE debut in March. The Japanese talent beat Alex Silva in his promotional debut. A follow-up against Masunyane, who is coming off a win over Minowa, could elevate him toward the top of the divisional rankings.
More bouts are expected to be announced in the weeks ahead. ONE 165 is shaping up to be a dynamic event in Tokyo with high stakes throughout the card. ONE 165: Rodtang vs. Takeru airs live on Sunday, January 28.
