ONE Championship have announced a huge kickboxing battle between two of Asia’s biggest fan-favourites for ONE 172 in Japan.
Japanese kickboxing star Takeru Segawa will take on Muay Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon in the main event of ONE 172, which is set to take place on March 22 (March 23 locally) in Saitama, Japan, with the city’s iconic Saitama Super Arena serving as the venue.
The pair will do battle in a five-round flyweight kickboxing superfight, as ONE’s No. 2-ranked flyweight kickboxing contender faces off against No. 1 contender and former ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang in a mouthwatering clash.
It’s a matchup that has captured the imagination of fight fans in Asia ever since Takeru signed with ONE. Now the stars have aligned and the pair will face off in a huge main event bout next March.
Joining them on the fight card are former ONE flyweight MMA world champion Adriano Moraes and No. 2-ranked flyweight contender Yuya Wakamatsu, who will face off for the flyweight title recently vacated by the retiring Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.
“ONE Championship will head to Japan for the fourth time, and I am excited to bring one of the biggest kickboxing fights in history to Saitama Super Arena,” said ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, via press release.
“Takeru is a kickboxing icon, revered for his supreme skill and fighting spirit. Rodtang is the world’s most popular striking superstar and one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters of all time. I can’t wait to finally witness this spectacular fight in ONE Championship.
“Plus, former flyweight MMA king Adriano Moraes and Japan’s own Yuya Wakamatsu will face off for the vacant ONE flyweight MMA world title.
“I’m excited to see who will succeed Demetrious Johnson as the undisputed king of the division. It’s going to be another historic night in Japan.”
