ONE Championship gears up to host one of its biggest spectacles of the year with ONE SAMURAI 1 on Wednesday, April 29.
The blockbuster card, which broadcasts live from the historic Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, features a multitude of bouts across several disciplines, each carrying its own massive stakes and undeniable momentum.
With four World Title clashes, major divisional implications, heated rivalries, and marquee matchups from top to bottom, the event presents a night filled with questions that will shape the future of the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Here are five burning questions ahead of the monumental show.
Few fighters have carried the expectations of a nation the way Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa has.
A three-division K-1 Champion, he built his career on relentless pressure and an uncompromising style that made him one of the most beloved figures in Japanese combat sports. Now, that journey reaches its final chapter.
He faces Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon in a highly anticipated rematch for the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title. The headline attraction carries both World Championship stakes and personal significance.
Adding to the moment, the bout will be broadcast on Fuji TV, bringing Takeru’s farewell to millions of viewers across Japan. It’s something he has described as a dream come true.
Standing across from him is the man who stopped him in just 80 seconds in their first encounter at ONE 172 last year.
That result was decisive, but it left questions — not about Rodtang’s ability, but about whether Takeru was ever given the chance to show his full range. A rematch offers that opportunity, but this time, there are no second chances.
With retirement looming, this is no longer just about victory. It is about rewriting the ending.
Rodtang, meanwhile, steps into the role as the final test of a legend. Being chosen for that moment reflects mutual respect, but it also places him at the center of a story that extends beyond the result.
Whether Takeru can change the narrative or Rodtang closes the book himself, the outcome will define how this rivalry is remembered.
Beyond the main event, Japan’s World Champions carry added weight on their shoulders.
ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu and ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka Yoshinari enter ONE SAMURAI 1 not only as titleholders, but as standard-bearers for the host nation.
For Wakamatsu, the challenge comes in the form of Avazbek “Ninzya” Kholmirzaev, a top-shelf contender with a terrifying 93 percent finishing rate across 15 career victories.
His aggressive style and momentum present a clear threat to the reigning king, who has built his own reputation on explosive offense.
Nadaka, meanwhile, enters on a remarkable 40-fight winning streak. But now, he faces Songchainoi Kiatsongrit, a familiar opponent returning with renewed momentum and a clear motivation to avenge their previous meeting.
The former K-1 Champion challenges Jonathan “The General” Haggerty for the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title, aiming to cap his rapid rise with gold against one of the sport’s most polished strikers.
Fighting at home brings both energy and expectation. A clean sweep would reinforce Japan’s standing across multiple divisions, while any shift could reshape the landscape moving forward.