ONE Championship (ONE), the world’s largest martial arts organization, held the official ONE SAMURAI 4 press conference at Marunouchi Building Hall on Tuesday, October 13.
The star-studded event featured ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, alongside several key athletes competing on the card, including ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty, former divisional kingpin Hiroki Akimoto, ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka Yoshinari, surging Malaysian contender Rifdean “Magic Boy” Masdor, former K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza, former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane, former K-1 Champion Shintaro Matsukura, and Thai striking star Sinsamut “Aquaman” Klinmee.
[WATCH: ONE SAMURAI 4 Press Conference]
[ONE SAMURAI 4 Press Conference Official Photos]
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “We are extremely excited to put on an incredible card once again at Ariake Arena. Personally, I am extremely excited for the main and co-main event, but the rest of the card is absolutely blistering.
“Fans all over the world who love striking, the best of the best strikers on the planet, this is one of those incredible fights. The defending champion, Jonathan Haggerty, is genuinely one of the best pound-for-pound strikers, World Champions on the planet, and can strike in any rule set against anybody. But he has his hands full with Hiroki Akimoto. Akimoto is a former Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion, a Karate World Champion, and a very dangerous striker. He’s had to climb his way back into title contention, so this is truly Japan’s best versus the world’s best.
“And in the co-main event, a World Title fight in Muay Thai, defending champion Nadaka – he’s on a 42-fight win streak and hasn’t lost in seven years. It’s an incredible streak he’s on, and many experts around the world will say he is the pound-for-pound greatest Muay Thai fighter, World Champion on the planet today. But the title challenger, Rifdean, has one-punch KO power, and is very dangerous.”
Jonathan Haggerty, ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion, stated: “First of all, I want to say a massive thank you for having me come back to Japan and showcase my skills. It’s unbelievable. I’ve trained extremely hard for this fight. My coaches know what I’m coming to bring, and it’s definitely going to be a knockout.
“It’s a massive blessing, you know. Since a young age, this is all I’ve wanted to do, being in the big stadiums, fulfilling my dreams. And I’ve done it a few times now. I’ve done it last time in Japan, and it’s nothing new to me. So come Saturday, it’s gonna be the same thing, the same decision – and still.”
Hiroki Akimoto, Former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion, stated: “I’ve been given a big opportunity in SAMURAI 4, and I’m very happy that a match has been set up against a very strong fighter like Haggerty. Since he says he’s coming to knock me out, yes, I’ve prepared thoroughly as well, not only to avoid being knocked out, but so that I can knock him out too. I will definitely win and make the belt mine.
“Being able to fight against the best opponent in the best venue, I want to enjoy it and fight with everything I have. I believe it will definitely be an exciting match.”
Nadaka Yoshinari, ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion, stated: “It just feels right. Being able to train the way I want to is genuinely enjoyable. I’ve put even more passion into it, and I’m very confident that I’m in even better shape than last time.
“I’m brimming with confidence that I can put on an exciting match that the viewers will really enjoy.
“I think Rifdean is coming to fight me, truly carrying the nation of Malaysia on his back, challenging me with absolutely everything he’s got. But even so, I want to show him that he cannot get past the wall that I am.”
Rifdean Masdor, ONE World Title Challenger, stated: “Nadaka is one of the best fighters in the world. And I train three times a day. There is nothing impossible about beating him. He is just an ordinary human being, too. So, wait and see on the 17th. We will do our best. I’m not scared of anyone anyway. Not scared of anyone. And not scared of Nadaka either.
“I will show everyone my best performance soon. I want everyone to remember my name – Rifdean Masdor. This name will be the one who defeats Nadaka next. I will break his record.”
Yuki Yoza, Former K-1 Champion, stated: “Up until my loss to Haggerty, without realizing it, winning had become a given and my goals shifted toward how I would win or get the knockout. After losing to Haggerty, and since the match with Nabil was confirmed, I just simply want to win. I’ve prepared myself thoroughly with a mindset much more akin to when I was a rookie. In just a few days I’ll be fighting Nabil, and I really want to win.”
Nabil Anane, Former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion, stated: “Mentally, I am ready. I am very ready because I have been eagerly waiting to come back to Japan. This will be my fourth time fighting in Japan. In the past, I have built a pretty good track record, a very good one. Since coming to Japan, I have never had any regrets, and I am happy to be back again. As for my opponent, Mr. Yuki Yoza, as everyone knows and has heard, is good at kickboxing. He is good in the area he is already comfortable with. I have also fought in kickboxing before.”
Shintaro Matsukura, Former K-1 Champion, stated: “I’m incredibly motivated for this fight. To be honest, I also don’t know how many more matches I have left [in me]. Being able to stand on a stage like ONE Championship at the end and having all my teammates fighting on the same day – being able to fight in the same venue where Takeru became champion and then retired – I think it’s a day that wouldn’t happen unless many things fell perfectly into place. While truly savoring that, I want to go out there and perform.
“I don’t think there are any ‘what-ifs’ in combat sports, so the reality is you just don’t know until you fight, which is the most important thing. Personally, I’m curious to see what level I’m at, and I don’t think I’m lacking in accomplishments either, so I want to show the pride I’ve built by winning up to this point and give it my best.”
Sinsamut Klinmee, ONE Championship Lightweight, stated: “He (Shintaro Matsukura) is skilled. But in ONE Championship, he has not proven it yet. We have to measure and see how skilled he is, and I also want to know how skilled he is. Let’s see.”
ONE SAMURAI 4 broadcasts live from Ariake Arena on Saturday, October 17. As part of a one-time only special, international fans will be able to stream the blockbuster event through a paid monthly subscription to The Inner Circle at live.onefc.com.