Liu Mengyang Tells Masaaki Noiri to Retire if He Gets Knocked Out at ONE SAMURAI 2
Chinese kickboxing sensation "Spirit Dragon" Liu Mengyang is heading back to Japan for ONE SAMURAI 2, and he has a bold message for the man waiting for him there.
The 23-year-old meets former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 2 on Saturday, August 8. The show streams via live.onefc.com from EBARA WAVE Arena Ota in Tokyo.
Liu handed Noiri a unanimous decision loss in December 2024, dropping the Japanese veteran in the first round en route to the result. Since then, both fighters have taken very different paths.
The winner advances to the semifinals of the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament, and he will be one step closer to a shot at ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon's undisputed gold.
Liu Feels Zero Pressure Against Veteran Noiri at ONE SAMURAI 2
Liu has not entered this rematch at ONE SAMURAI 2 with any anxiety about facing the man he already defeated. The Chinese striker has drawn a clear line between his own ceiling and where he believes Noiri's ambitions are destined to fall short.
"I feel zero pressure stepping into the cage against him, whether it's the Grand Prix or a title eliminator fight. I'm fully confident I can defeat him every time we meet. I don't believe he's capable of winning the Grand Prix, let alone holding a World Title belt long-term," Liu said.
His 4-1 ONE record, built on three consecutive victories and a debut win over Noiri himself, gives those words genuine backing. The 36-7 career mark with 11 finishes reflects a 23-year-old operating well beyond his years.
Noiri Promises Double Revenge While Liu Prepares Countermeasures
Noiri has not taken Liu's first victory quietly. The 33-year-old Japanese star made his intentions for the rematch unmistakably clear, and Liu has been listening closely to every word before preparing his own response.
"I'm sure he has gained experience and become a better fighter. But I believe I have improved even more. The humiliation I experienced that night has to be repaid more than double. No matter how the fight unfolds, I want to put him down and win," Noiri said.
The former interim titleholder's 51-14 career record and the championship experience accumulated against Superbon give him credentials that cannot be dismissed.
Liu, however, has framed Noiri's revenge motivation as exactly the kind of trap he is prepared to turn against the Japanese veteran, arriving at ONE SAMURAI 2 with specific adjustments ready for whatever the Tokyo resident has modified in the two years since their first meeting.
Liu Predicts Another Knockdown, Delivers a Career Warning to Noiri
Liu has saved his sharpest words for last. The Chinese striker has gone beyond predicting victory and issued a message to Noiri that leaves no room for ambiguity about what he expects to happen inside EBARA WAVE Arena Ota.
"I'll have countermeasures ready and knock him down. Masaaki Noiri: If you get KO'd again this time, don't claim you just let your guard down. It's simply because you're past your prime, and it's time for you to retire," he said.
The combination of Liu's unbothered confidence and Noiri's burning desire for revenge makes the ONE SAMURAI 2 main event the most combustible matchup in the tournament bracket, and the result on August 8 will carry significant implications for who eventually challenges Superbon for the undisputed featherweight kickboxing crown.
Watch ONE SAMURAI 2 exclusively via live.onefc.com at 4:30 a.m. ET/1:30 a.m. PT.
