ONE Championship announced a slew of exciting matchups for ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang. The event, on Thursday, March 23, already had one title tilt announced with Adriano Moraes and Yuya Wakamatsu competing for the vacant flyweight MMA crown. Joining them are three additional title tilts.
DREAM MATCH 🤩 Tawanchai looks to become a two-sport king when he collides with former two-division K-1 Champion Masaaki Noiri for the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang in Japan on March 23! Will it be the featherweight Muay Thai king… pic.twitter.com/z4WhKiq6Jz
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 31, 2025
ONE 172 Press Conference Confirms Huge Night of Action
ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed the massive slate at the ONE 172 press conference in Japan. ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai will get a shot to become a two-sport king against Masaaki Noiri. The two will square off for the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title.
But the high-stakes matchups only got better. After his exciting upset TKO win over Nico Carrillo to win the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title, Nabil Anane secured his rematch against ONE Flyweight Kickboxing and Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9. Title unification is at stake, but Anane seeks redemption over the man who gave him his first and only loss on the global stage.
EPIC REMATCH 🏆 After nearly two years and six straight wins, Nabil Anane gets a second crack at Superlek when they collide in Japan on March 23 to unify the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang! Can the interim champ gain redemption and end “The… pic.twitter.com/QYkvxkIK9r
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 31, 2025
Kickboxing Gold Also At Stake in ONE 172
In addition to those title tilts, the ONE Interim Strawweight Kickboxing World Title will be on the line at ONE 172. Former World Champions Jonathan Di Bella and Sam-A Gaiyanghado will exchange leather in the hopes of nabbing gold once again. A fast-paced and explosive title tilt will set the stage for the remainder of the evening.
But gold is not the only thing great about ONE 172. Former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker makes his kickboxing debut. The Brazilian will go toe-to-toe against Hiroki Akimoto that is guaranteed to be a special attraction.
Featherweights Lock Horns in ONE 172
Featherweight kickboxing contenders Marat Grigorian and Kaito Ono try to steal the show early in the night. Rak Erawan and Nadaka Yoshinari meet in an exciting atomweight Muay Thai slugfest. Finally, Suriyanlek Por Yenying and Ryusei Kumagai meet in a 132-pound catchweight kickboxing affair.
The ONE 172 card is filled with exciting martial arts matches. The press conference filled the docket to the brim, promising an exceptional night inside Saitama Super Arena. The event goes down on Sunday, March 23, from Japan.