ONE Championship Announces Three Blockbuster Fights Featuring World Champions Haggerty, Hemetsberger, and Carrillo

Reigning ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan "The General" Haggerty will defend his crown against former titleholder Hiroki Akimoto at ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

In addition, two-sport ONE World Champion Stella Hemetsberger makes her first Muay Thai title defense against Russian knockout artist Natalia Diachkova, and ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico Carrillo makes his kickboxing debut against Chinese star Zhou Jiaqiang. Both matches go down at ONE Fight Night 46 on Friday, August 14, live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Three active ONE World Champions, three incredible fights across two events, and a Scottish knockout artist following the other titleholders' footsteps and venturing into a new discipline make this one of the more significant multi-fight announcements.

Haggerty Faces Former Ruler Akimoto in Tokyo

Haggerty's 10-3 ONE Championship record includes an unbeaten run across all his promotional kickboxing appearances. The 29-year-old Londoner, known for his lethal teep game, claimed the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title by flatling Fabricio Andrade in the second round at ONE Fight Night 16 in 2023, and then he defended the gold against Wei Rui and Yuki Yoza to cement his status as one of the finest pound-for-pound strikers on the planet.

Akimoto brings a genuine title fight pedigree to the contest. The 33-year-old Tokyo native won the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE X in 2022 before a difficult stretch derailed his momentum. He rebuilt in style in 2025, defeating former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John "Hands of Stone" Lineker, the aforementioned Wei, and compatriot Taimu Hisai to earn his shot at redemption.

A former champion fighting on home soil in Tokyo against an unbeaten European kickboxing titleholder gives October 17 at Ariake Arena a compelling storyline that goes beyond a standard title defense.

Two-Sport Queen Hemetsberger Puts Muay Thai Crown on the Line

Hemetsberger's rise has been relentless. The 27-year-old Austrian claimed the ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Title by defeating Jackie Buntan in a five-round war, and then she returned five months later to take the Filipino-American's kickboxing crown via split decision. In the process, she joined Stamp Fairtex and Janet Todd as ONE Championship's third two-sport queen. Her 5-0 promotional record remains spotless heading into her first title defense.

Diachkova is her most dangerous challenge yet. The 31-year-old Russian built her career on ONE Friday Fights, earned a six-figure contract with four consecutive wins in 2024, fell short in a title challenge, and then bounced back with two straight victories. Four knockouts from six ONE Championship appearances underline the finishing threat she brings to Bangkok.

A champion who thrives in long technical wars against a challenger who hunts finishes gives the ONE Fight Night 46 main event a sharp stylistic contrast from the opening bell.

Carrillo Makes ONE Championship Kickboxing Debut Against Zhou

Carrillo is one of the most destructive finishers in ONE Championship's featherweight division. The 27-year-old Scot claimed the ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE Fight Night 40 in February. His victories include stoppages over Nong-O Hama and Saemapetch Fairtex. His 30-4 career record with 16 finishes speaks for itself.

Now, he steps into kickboxing for the first time in ONE Championship, facing Chinese promotional newcomer Zhou Jiaqiang, who is ranked #5 in the Combat Press rankings, on August 14. Two debuting fighters sharing the ring adds an element of unpredictability.

How Carrillo translates his Muay Thai finishing power into the kickboxing rule set is the central question of his August 14 appearance, and the answer promises to be entertaining regardless of how it unfolds.