A massive flyweight kickboxing encounter will headline ONE Championship’s return to Japan. On Thursday morning in Tokyo, ONE announced the long-awaited showdown between Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Takeru Segawa (h/t ESPN’s Marc Raimondi). The bout will main event the company’s return to Japan at ONE 165 on Sunday, January 28.
The two flyweights have been calling for a meeting for quite some time. In April, Takeru signed with ONE, making the showdown imminent. With the date finally set, fans can rejoice as they will see a dream become a reality in a five-round main event.
Takeru enters as a winner in 36 of his last 37 matches. He has been nearly flawless, as is his technique. Rodtang’s aggressiveness will challenge his pristine skill. The Thai superstar has been electric with his forward pressure, leading him to become the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion.
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However, the kickboxing showdown is not the only matchup ONE revealed. Also at the press conference were Shinya Aoki and Sage Northcutt. The two MMA stars are lined up for an important showdown in the lightweight division.
The two polar opposite personalities have traded words on social media. Northcutt’s happy-go-lucky demeanor was met with Aoki’s gruff disposition. After building buzz around their encounter, the two will meet inside the ring on January 28.
Northcutt dazzled fans this past May when he returned to action against Ahmed Mujtaba. The American won with a surprising heel hook submission in just 39 seconds. As he showed off his improved ground skills, the potential meeting with Aoki became that much more intriguing.
By announcing two incredible matchups for ONE 165, ONE is building a marquee event right away for 2024. Both bouts could headline in their own right. Instead, ONE 165 is looking to be a star-studded affair in the first month of the new year.
ONE 165 airs live from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, January 28. Stay tuned at MMASucka.com as more bouts are announced in the coming weeks.
