Itsuki Hirata and Jihin Radzuan Settle Unfinished Business at ONE SAMURAI 4
ONE Championship has confirmed a long-awaited atomweight MMA rematch for ONE SAMURAI 4, featuring Japanese star Itsuki "Android 18" Hirata.
Hirata takes on Malaysia's Jihin "Shadow Cat" Radzuan at ONE SAMURAI 4, which goes down live from Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Saturday, October 17.
Their first meeting at ONE X in 2022 produced one of the organization’s most competitive atomweight MMA bouts. Both fighters gave everything across 15 minutes before Jihin claimed a split-decision victory, handing Hirata her first career defeat.
With the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship now vacant following Denice "The Menace" Zamboanga's decision to relinquish the title after embracing motherhood, a convincing victory for either athlete on October 17 could put her name in the title picture.
Hirata Returns to Tokyo with Something to Prove
Hirata has unfinished business with both Jihin and the atomweight division. The 27-year-old Tokyo native made an instant impact in her 2019 ONE Championship debut, winning four straight bouts with three stoppages to establish herself as one of the division's most exciting prospects.
The split-decision loss to Jihin at ONE X ended that momentum and opened a difficult chapter in her career, which included a string of setbacks across several promotional appearances.
She has since rebuilt with purpose. Victories over India's Arti Khatri and wrestling superstar Ritu Phogat have returned her to the form that made her a divisional talking point in the first place.
Jihin Aims for a 2-0 Series Lead at ONE SAMURAI 4
Jihin's path to ONE SAMURAI 4 has not been without turbulence.
The 27-year-old Malaysian started her ONE Championship career with three consecutive victories before a period of mixed results complicated her trajectory, and a tough split-decision defeat this past July adds an edge to her motivation heading into the rematch with Hirata.
Jihin's 10-6 record tells the story of a fighter who has been competitive against high-level opposition throughout her career, and the first meeting with Hirata in 2022 showed her at her best, grinding out a 15-minute decision in a fight that neither woman made easy for the other.
The chance to go 2-0 in the rivalry while simultaneously positioning herself for a vacant title shot gives the Malaysian two powerful reasons to deliver her best performance in some time.
ONE SAMURAI 4 Delivers a Stacked Card from Top to Bottom in Tokyo
The Hirata-Jihin rematch is one of several marquee matchups on an exceptional ONE SAMURAI 4 card.
In the headliner, reigning ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan "The General" Haggerty makes his third title defense against former champion Hiroki Akimoto.
The ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament reaches its semifinal stage with two highly anticipated bouts. Kickboxing legend Marat Grigorian battles Luo Chao, and former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri collides with Iran's Mohammad Siasarani.
Completing the card, reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka makes his title defense against Rifdean Masdor, adding another title clash to an event that already delivers championship action from the first fight to the last.
