Latest news with #ONE173
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Smashed every metric!': Ayaka Miura says she is ageing backwards ahead of ONE 173 shot
Ayaka Miura said she was in the best shape of her life as she prepared to fight Denice Zamboanga for the vacant atomweight MMA world title at ONE 173 in her homeland in November. Advertisement The 34-year-old Japanese star submitted Juliana Otálora in the first round last weekend at ONE Friday Fights 116, using her trademark scarf-hold Americana, widely known now as the 'Ayaka Lock'. It was her third submission in four straight wins and her 11th career victory by tapout. 'I always aim to finish,' Miura told the Post. 'If you don't finish, it can be boring, especially in women's fights. I want to show that female fights can be exciting. That's why I go for the submission every time.' Miura said she was told she would be receiving the title shot during her post-fight interview in the ring at Lumpinee Stadium. Ayaka Miura (right) lost to China's Xiong Jingnan in a strawweight title fight in 2022. Photo: ONE Championship 'The past few years were very tough, but I told myself: don't quit. Keep going. Believe in yourself. Now the results are coming.'
Bangkok Post
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
ONE Championship: Chihiro Sawada targets Denice Zamboanga title shot in Japan after submission win
Chihiro Sawada has her sights set on a ONE Championship world title shot – and she wants it in her home country. The Japanese atomweight contender returned to winning ways with a first-round armbar submission of Argentina's Macarena Aragon last Saturday morning at ONE Fight Night 33 in Bangkok. It marked a strong response from the 27-year-old after her first professional loss – a decision defeat to China's Meng Bo in January – and she now has her eye on gold. 'My intention is the same – to go to that Japan card, ONE 173,' Sawada told the Bangkok Post backstage at Lumpinee Stadium. 'I got the win and I want the chance to fight there too.' ONE 173 is set for November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. But it remains to be seen whether Sawada will get her wish. Ayaka Miura, a former ONE strawweight title challenger who dropped to atomweight last year, will compete against Colombian newcomer Juliana Otalora at ONE Friday Fights 116 – and is believed to be in pole position to challenge newly elevated champion Denice Zamboanga in November. Sawada is currently ranked No 5 in the atomweight MMA division and knows the opportunity may not fall to her just yet. 'If there is no title shot, I want Ham Seo Hee,' she said. 'Or it is going to be Ayaka Miura in Japan.' Sawada, who trains with AACC in Tokyo, dominated from the opening bell against Aragon – who had failed hydration for the bout – before locking in the armbar. 'Armbar is just one of my plans that I had for Aragon,' she said. 'I also prepared other submission techniques like the leg lock, and I have increased my striking skills also. But this time, the armbar – I made it, I executed, and I'm very happy about that.' Despite the finish, Sawada missed out on a US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. 'I expected the bonus, but maybe this is not the right timing for that – next time,' she said. Asked whether she was compensated in other ways after Aragon's weigh-in issues, she smiled and replied, 'I can't say anything about this!' – though it is likely she received at least 20 per cent of her opponent's fight purse. Sawada was quick to thank her supporters after the win, which improved her overall record to 9-1-1, and 4-1 in ONE Championship. 'Thank you very much to everybody that's been supporting me from Japan – and not only from Japan, from my fans around the world,' she said. 'It means a lot to me. 'And not only that – all the athletes that have been training with me, all my trainers, everybody in my gym, and especially my corners that have been helping me. I thank them a lot.'
Bangkok Post
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
ONE Championship: Alexis Nicolas calls for Nieky Holzken bout at ONE 173 – and vows to knock out George Jarvis in two rounds
Alexis Nicolas is ready to launch his comeback trail – and wants a showdown with Nieky Holzken to kick it off at ONE 173 in Tokyo. The Frenchman has called out the Dutch striking legend for a lightweight kickboxing bout on the November 16 card at Ariake Arena, as he looks to re-enter title contention after a dramatic trilogy with Regian Eersel. 'I've wanted to fight him since I started boxing,' Nicolas told the Bangkok Post. 'We're both former champions, and for me it's the perfect matchup. I want to knock him out and take the bonus. I need money. I need to shine.' The 26-year-old lifted the belt in his first meeting with Eersel but dropped a pair of close decisions in the rematch and rubber match. Then 'The Immortal' missed weight for their third bout in April, vacating the crown and leaving the division wide open. Now Nicolas sees an opportunity to stake his claim – and wouldn't mind an interim belt on the line. 'Maybe it makes sense – an interim belt against Nieky, Sinsamut, whoever Chatri [Sityodtong, ONE CEO] wants. I'm a former champion, the title is vacant, I want to fight,' he said. Holzken, 41, is coming off a stunning first-round KO win over Sinsamut Klinmee in March and has been rejuvenated in the last 18 months. Nicolas believes they could steal the show on what's already shaping up to be a stacked card. 'I saw the main event is Superbon vs Noiri – crazy fight – and Reug Reug vs Malykhin is confirmed too,' Nicolas said. 'I don't know if the card is booked, but for me the best kickboxing matchup would be me and Holzken. Two elite strikers, we have to give a big show.' Nicolas also has one eye on George Jarvis, who is set to challenge Eersel for the lightweight Muay Thai title in August at Lumpinee Stadium. Should the Briton take gold, Nicolas wants next. 'Jarvis is a good fighter, I respect him. But he doesn't have the level of Eersel. I could KO him in round two under kickboxing rules – very, very easy,' he said. 'This is not trash talk. It's just real.' Nicolas has fought just once since April – and admits inactivity has taken its toll. 'If I don't fight, I'm not good. I'm a little depressed,' he said. 'Now I'm a star in France but I'd rather fight every day and have no fame than be a superstar who never fights. It makes no sense. 'I just want to fight. I'm not a model. I'm a fighter.' The Frenchman said he has fans all over Europe and wants ONE to help elevate him further, along with rising stars from the country like Bampara Kouyate and Elias Mahmoudi. 'We have very talented fighters in France, and with ONE we can promote that. But I can't do it alone,' Nicolas said. 'They need to push us more in Europe.' For now, though, he remains focused on one thing – getting back to the top. 'I fell in love with Thailand. I've got fans and friends here now. So if it's not Holzken, give me Sinsamut. If not Sinsamut, anyone in the division. I'll KO them all,' Nicolas said. 'This isn't talk – the whole division knows I'm dangerous.'
Bangkok Post
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
ONE Championship: Superbon says Japanese crowd ‘won't help' Masaaki Noiri – ‘I'll beat him up'
Superbon has promised to spoil the party for Masaaki Noiri – and says the Japanese crowd won't save him when they meet in Tokyo. The Thai veteran will defend his ONE Championship featherweight kickboxing title in a unification bout against interim champ Noiri at ONE 173 on November 16, and is relishing the chance to perform in enemy territory. 'I'm the best. I will be the best and I will beat you up in Japan,' Superbon told the Bangkok Post, when asked to send a message to Noiri. While he's excited by the energy of the local fans, Superbon made it clear crowd support will mean little once the cage door shuts at Ariake Arena. 'It's not going to affect me anything,' he said. 'Every time when I fight around the world – in Europe, in China – I never hear the sound, like in Thailand. 'I have tournament championships in China, in Abu Dhabi. There was not anyone supporting me – I still became the champ. 'So know, when you are in the ring, nobody will help you. Nobody will help him.' The 34-year-old reclaimed the belt earlier this year after Chingiz Allazov was stripped for inactivity. Now he says he's focused on clearing out the rest of the division. 'It's not about the belt – I want to beat everyone at featherweight,' he said. 'I have nearly done it, but someone left [Allazov], so it's OK. Right now, I'm going to stay here to beat everyone in the featherweight division.' Another target remains Tawanchai PK Saenchai, who owns two Muay Thai wins over Superbon – a rivalry he's not ready to close the book on. 'There's not many people that I lose to, and then I cannot beat them,' he said. 'So he will be the plan for my future. If I can choose, I'm going to choose Muay Thai against Tawanchai – but whatever, Muay Thai or kickboxing, doesn't matter. I'm going to fight.' The Noiri clash will mark Superbon's first kickboxing bout since beating Marat Grigorian for the interim title in April 2024. Now he's looking forward to putting on a show in a country steeped in the history of the sport. 'Yeah, I'm excited to get back to kickboxing,' he said. 'I saw Rodtang's fight [against Takeru at ONE 172] – a lot of fans in Japan are crazy. They support the fighters. I love the Japanese fans. I'm going to show my best there.'
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
'Reug Reug' vs. Anatoly Malykhin heavyweight title rematch booked for ONE 173
"Reug Reug" is set to make his first ONE Championship title defense against a familiar foe. They're running it back. Oumar Kane, better known as "Reug Reug," is set to defend his ONE Championship heavyweight title against the man from whom he won it, Anatoly Malykhin. The two are set to clash in the co-main event of ONE 173, which is set to go down on Nov. 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Superbon vs. Masaaki Noiri, a ONE featherweight kickboxing title unification bout, will serve as the main event of the card. ONE Championship announced the news of the two title bouts on Monday morning. "Reug Reug" (7-1) won the ONE Championship heavyweight title in November of last year, beating Malykhin in a big upset. Many didn't see the Senegalese dethroning Malykhin, but he managed to do so in a split decision. "Reug Reug" earned MMA Junkie's 2024 Upset of the Year with the victory. The 33-year-old is on a four-fight winning streak. On the other hand, Malykhin (14-1) is looking to restore his standing as a three-division champion, as he currently holds both the light heavyweight and middleweight ONE Championship belts. The loss to "Reug Reug" marked Malykhin's first professional defeat in his 15-fight MMA career
