All is set for ONE Championship’s latest big event in Japan this week, ONE SAMURAI 1. The competing fighters have wrapped up training and are ready to plunge into action and give fans exciting battles.
The show, the promotion’s debut offering of its new monthly fight series in “The Land of the Rising Sun,” fires off on April 29 at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena. It features 15 top-notch martial arts action from various disciplines, including four world title fights.
To whet fight fans’ appetite for the marquee event, ONE Championship shared on YouTube behind-the-scenes videos of some of the fighters’ camps in the lead-up.
Spotlighted, particularly, were those of Johan Ghazali and Shimon Yoshinari, who are to battle in a flyweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE SAMURAI 1 as well as atomweight Muay Thai world champion Nadaka Yoshinari and his opponent Songchainoi Kiatsongrit. Japanese kickboxer Hyu’s camp is also featured.
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In the ONE video package, the fighters provided a glimpse of the grind they had to undergo to be in fighting shape, as well as their thoughts on their respective matches.
Ghazali and Shimon had their back-and-forth:
“I’m not being arrogant. Shimon is a bit taller than me but nothing to be scared of. He’s not Mike Tyson,” Ghazali said of Shimon.
“Johan, please be ready. This gonna be the fight of your life,” the Japanese star retorted.
Check out the video below:
Nadaka shooting for US$50,000 performance bonus at ONE SAMURAI 1
Apart from a convincing victory to retain the atomweight Muay Thai world title, Nadaka is shooting for a spectacular performance at ONE SAMURAI 1 that would earn him a $50,000 performance bonus.
He made his intentions known in an interview with ONE Championship in line with his scheduled title defense, highlighting his goal of earning his first incentive given to outstanding performances by Chatri Sityodtong, the promotion’s chairman and CEO.
“Like a true champion, I want to win by knockout in dominant fashion. I’ve had four fights in ONE, but I haven’t earned a bonus yet. So this time, I want to deliver a performance that earns one,” he said.
ONE SAMURAI 1 will mark the first defense of Nadaka after becoming the world champion in his previous fight last November.
Pay-per-view passes for the big Japanese event can be purchased via this link.
Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim
