“The Kicking Machine” is putting in WORK
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pic.twitter.com/N2YyePorTt— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship)
January 28, 2024
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The main event of
ONE Championship 165 lived up to the hype and then some.
Superlek
Kiatmoo9 and Takeru
Segawa engaged in a thrilling battle in their flyweight
(135-pound) kickboxing title clash at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on
Sunday, with Kiatmmo9 earning a unanimous decision triumph.
From the opening bell, Superlek unleashed a flurry of merciless leg
kicks that echoed with each thunderous strike, leaving a visible
trail of damage on his opponent. Takeru absorbed the punishment,
biding his time for a spectacular resurgence.
The third round became the canvas for Takeru’s masterstroke—a
relentless barrage of unanswered body shots. Just when it seemed
the pendulum of momentum had swung in his favor, Superlek
orchestrated a dramatic turnaround in the fourth and fifth rounds,
clinching a hard-fought victory.
The co-main event featured a rematch between ONE
lightweight (170-pound) submission grappling world champion
Kade
Ruotolo and former IBJJF world champion Tommy
Langaker. Their initial clash in June 2023 ended with Ruotolo
securing a unanimous decision victory.
Shiting the stage to ONE 165, Ruotolo’s dominance was palpable. He
kept Langaker on the defensive with a barrage of rapid-fire
submission attempts, showcasing remarkable speed and technical
prowess. Transitioning seamlessly between positions, Ruotolo
threatened with a kimura, armbar, and crucifix, ultimately securing
victory via unanimous decision. Langaker attempted leg locks, but
Ruotolo’s adept scrambling skills maintained the lead. The
21-year-old asserted his divisional supremacy, earning a $50,000
bonus and sparking speculation about a potential transition to
mixed martial arts.
Meanwhile, Shinya Aoki
faced late-notice replacement John
Lineker in an openweight bout. Originally set to fight Sage
Northcutt in a 170-pound match, Aoki displayed his adaptability
as he transitioned to face Lineker, who stepped in due to
unforeseen circumstances with Northcutt’s cornermen.
Despite Lineker’s two-fight winning streak, Aoki’s size advantage
and grappling expertise came into play. Aoki secured a rear-naked
choke, forcing Lineker to tap out at the 3:00 mark of Round 1. The
victory marked Aoki’s rebound from back-to-back stoppage losses and
was his 26th first-round finish overall.
Earlier that night, the highly-anticipated special rules
super-fight between Dutch kickboxing icon Nieky
Holzken and Japanese MMA legend Yoshihiro
Akiyama featured three distinct rule sets. The bout was
scheduled to kick off with boxing rules, transition to muay thai
rules and conclude with traditional MMA rules. However, the special
rules never came to fruition.
Holzken’s striking prowess proved too much for Akiyama, as “The
Natural” secured a scintillating knockout victory in the first
round at the 1:40 mark. Expressing his interest in continuing with
special rules fights, Holzken also walked away with a well-deserved
$50,000 bonus.
In a long-anticipated clash between featherweight (155-pound)
titans, Garry
Tonon, the top-ranked contender, faced off against former
two-division champ Martin
Nguyen. From the opening bell, Tonon made his game plan clear,
immediately putting Nguyen on the defensive with a well-timed kick.
The pace was set as “The Lion Killer” sought opportunities to close
the distance and engage in the clinch. Nguyen’s cautious striking
approach ultimately played into Tonon’s strategy.
Taking advantage of an ill-advised combination from his opponent,
Tonon secured the clinch and dictated the fight to the ground. The
American BJJ icon transitioned to Nguyen’s back, locking in a
rear-naked choke that forced “The Situ-Asian’” to tap out at the
4:41 mark of the first round.
With this victory, Tonon seemingly solidified his shot at the
featherweight title next and claimed the evening’s first $50,000
bonus from ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
In a women’s atomweight (115-pound) MMA fight, Ayaka Miura
secured a unanimous decision victory over Itsuki
Hirata. From the opening bell, Miura wasted no time,
aggressively initiating grappling exchanges.
As the second round commenced, Miura seamlessly continued her
dominance, shooting for immediate takedowns and maintaining control
over Hirata. Despite Hirata’s resilience, Miura’s strategic game
plan and grappling prowess persisted. Round 3 saw Miura’s game plan
working effectively. Controlling the pace with her grappling, Miura
secured key moments and finished the fight in a dominant
position.
In a flyweight (135-pound) MMA showdown, Yuya
Wakamatsu outclassed Danny
Kingad to secure a unanimous decision victory. Wakamatsu’s
striking and defensive skills were on full display, earning him a
well-deserved victory.
Rade
Opacic and Iraj
Azizpour engaged in a heavyweight kickboxing clash, with Opacic
delivering a commanding performance. Opacic’s methodical approach
and striking accuracy led to a unanimous decision victory.
In the second fight of the night, Bokang
Masunyane secured a unanimous decision victory over Keith
Yamakita. Throughout the fight, Masunyane showcased his grappling
skills, defending against Yamakita’s submission attempts. Despite
Yamakita’s triangle attempt and active guard work, Masunyane
remained strategic in his approach. The fight concluded with
Masunyane’s well-rounded performance, earning him a unanimous
decision win in an exciting display of MMA prowess.
The night kicked off with a strawweight (125-pound) MMA bout
between Hiroba Minowa and Gustavo
Balart. Balart emerged victorious via split decision in a
closely-contested battle.