ONE 172 promises to be one of the year’s best cards. Titles galore are featured on the card, but the main event is a dream fight. ONE Championship’s return to Japan is headlined by the long-awaited super-fight between Takeru Segawa and Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Takeru Segawa Looking to Feed Off Creature Comforts of Saitama Super Arena
It all goes down on March 23 inside the Saitama Super Arena, a historic arena that has seen its fair share of memorable bouts. The legendary venue is a welcome sight for “The Natural Born Crusher.”
“I have fought numerous times at the Super Arena during my K-1 days so I am excited to step back into that venue once again,” Takeru Segawa remarked to ONE.
Takeru Segawa Ready For Rodtang After Postponed Fight Last Year
Takeru was originally slated to compete against Rodtang in 2024. However, the Thai superstar had to withdraw due to injury, with Superlek Kiatmoo9 stepping up in his place. The year-long wait has only added more anticipation for the Japanese athlete getting the match he has coveted for so long.
“I just cannot wait to fight him. Like I said, this is what I have been gunning for, not only leading up to what ultimately turned out to be a fight against Superlek but through the long grind of recovery. I feel nothing but excitement and I’m preparing to meet him in the ring,” the kickboxing great said.
Takeru Hungry For Win vs. Rodtang March 23
Rodtang has been known for his all-out aggression. Yet when asked about the matchup, Takeru pointed out recent outings from “The Iron Man” where has been more cautious and defensive in his approach. When the two tussle in Japan, the 33-year-old hopes Rodtang meets his aggression in an all-time classic.
“I did notice that he does resort to fighting defensively at times, too. That said, aggression and forward momentum are the hallmarks of my style so I aim to impose my style on him and hope that he would reciprocate in kind. Even if he chooses to fight in a defensive manner, I have been preparing for such a scenario in my training camp,” the Japanese star stated.
Takeru got his first win in ONE competition at ONE Friday Fights 81 with a second-round knockout over Thant Zin. Feeling more comfortable on the global stage, Takeru feels more prepared than ever. As his camp winds down, the Japanese talent discussed the changes that he hopes lead him to one of the biggest wins of his career.
“Prior to my last fight against Thant Zin, I had changed some things in my preparation for the fight, in terms of technical and skill-related work and priming my physical condition through the rigor of fight camp. I am implementing the very same changes this time around and I am feeling good. Right now, I am holding my fight camp in the U.S., and while I am training hard every single day, I am taking special care to attend to my body,” Takeru commented.
Takeru Feeling Re-Energized for ONE 172 Clash vs. Rodtang
Winning is paramount for “The Natural Born Crusher.” However, the focus is putting on a standout performance against another elite striker. If all goes as planned, Takeru hopes to elevate Japanese martial arts with a victory at one of the biggest martial arts events in recent years.
“Of course, I need to win, but in a way, I feel like I have recaptured the exhilaration I felt early in my career of simply going into the fight with a sole intention of fiercely punching my opponent and winning. That is how I was able to approach my fight with Thant Zin and I feel that I could do the same in the upcoming fight against Rodtang,” the talented striker offered.
ONE 172 airs live on Sunday, March 23, at 3 a.m. ET/midnight PT. The action hails from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The event is available to purchase on global pay-per-view via watch.onefc.com.
