U-NEXT Exclusive Live Stream 'ONE SAMURAI' Holds Press Conference & Open Workout Ahead of Inaugural Event. Takeru and Rodtang Face Off with Fighting Spirit
U-NEXT held a press conference for the inaugural 'ONE SAMURAI' event to be exclusively live-streamed on April 29, 2026. Takeru, facing his retirement match, and Rodtang participated in a heated face-off.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 05:45
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 21:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 22:03 (31 min after Collected)
The video streaming service 'U-NEXT', operated by U-NEXT Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tenshin Tsutsumi) of the USEN & U-NEXT GROUP, will exclusively live stream the inaugural event of 'ONE SAMURAI', a new Japan-original series of the global combat sports organization 'ONE Championship', to be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (public holiday). Ahead of the event, a press conference was held at 5:00 PM on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Takeru, Rodtang, and Others Face Off & Open Workout
On this day, at NEW PIER HALL in Minato-ku, Tokyo, fighters participating in the inaugural 'ONE SAMURAI' event gathered, including Takeru, Rodtang, Yuya Wakamatsu, Nadaka Yoshinari, Jonathan Haggerty, Yuki Yoza, Kaito, and others.
Takeru, who will fight his retirement match at this event, said, 'I came here intending to use up everything I have done, my remaining physical strength, muscles, and every tissue in my body, so I believe I can fight like a completely different person compared to my last match. I consider this match the final chapter of my story, the last piece, and what I need at the end is the ONE Championship belt. I will definitely win, take the belt, and end my active career.'
The press conference and face-off can also be viewed on the official U-NEXT Combat Sports YouTube channel.
https://youtube.com/live/xa8g0cKzqDg
Regarding his opponent, Rodtang, Takeru commented, 'I lost in about 120 seconds about a year ago, and never in my career had a match ended with me being so helpless. In my mind, it's a match that could be called my most humiliating defeat. It took a year for me to face Rodtang in the ring again, but there is joy in finally being able to face him. I feel like I want to fight right now.'
His opponent, Rodtang, responded, 'I am very happy that he chose me as his final opponent. On April 29, it will undoubtedly be a very spectacular and interesting match for everyone watching. Please look forward to it.'
Following this, during the face-off, Rodtang and Takeru went beyond staring at each other from a close distance and intimidated each other to the point of almost rubbing their faces together.
In the subsequent open workout, Rodtang, Takeru, Haggerty, Yuki Yoza, Grigorian, Kaito, Shimon, and Hiyu demonstrated their public training. They showed their training in front of the press and gathered fans, hinting at their readiness for the real event.
The open workout can also be viewed on the official U-NEXT Combat Sports YouTube channel.
https://youtube.com/live/xa8g0cKzqDg
Terrestrial Broadcast Confirmed on Fuji TV on Event Day, April 29!
It has also been decided that 'ONE SAMURAI 1: Takeru's Retirement Match - The Fateful Revenge Match' (22:00-23:24) will be broadcast on terrestrial television via Fuji TV starting at 10:00 PM on the day of the event, Wednesday, April 29 (public holiday). Fans who want to follow all the matches live can enjoy U-NEXT's exclusive streaming, while those who want to enjoy it on terrestrial TV can do so on Fuji TV.
Many U-NEXT Original Contents to Enjoy ONE SAMURAI 1 More Are Also Streaming!
The U-NEXT official combat sports YouTube is also releasing numerous videos related to the participating fighters of 'ONE SAMURAI 1'. By touching upon the true faces and backgrounds of the fighters on YouTube, you can enjoy 'ONE SAMURAI 1' even more deeply during U-NEXT's exclusive live stream.
[List of YouTube video links removed for brevity as per original text pattern, assuming raw URLs suffice or keeping them as in the text]
■ Takeru's Final Battle Documentary 'What the Hero of the Japanese Combat Sports World Leaves Behind'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc3yJ-HI5Yw
■ Masato and Noiri Thoroughly Analyze the Highlights of 'Takeru vs. Rodtang'! Talking Endlessly About the Historic Event of Takeru's Retirement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt3hqJ2KXUg
■ 'Not Challenging the World, I Am the Top' Yuki Yoza Speaks of Overwhelming Confidence Before the Approaching Haggerty Match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epi2ceCZRoA
■ [FullFight] Takeru's ONE Debut vs. Superlek - A Fierce Battle Where He Kept Moving Forward Despite a Major Injury of a Torn Thigh Muscle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwW9DRLnXO4
■ [FullFight] Yoza's Former Champion Hunt! vs. Petchtanong - A Match Where He Dominated from Start to Finish and Declared His Name for the Title Frontline
h...
Takeru, Rodtang, and Others Face Off & Open Workout
On this day, at NEW PIER HALL in Minato-ku, Tokyo, fighters participating in the inaugural 'ONE SAMURAI' event gathered, including Takeru, Rodtang, Yuya Wakamatsu, Nadaka Yoshinari, Jonathan Haggerty, Yuki Yoza, Kaito, and others.
Takeru, who will fight his retirement match at this event, said, 'I came here intending to use up everything I have done, my remaining physical strength, muscles, and every tissue in my body, so I believe I can fight like a completely different person compared to my last match. I consider this match the final chapter of my story, the last piece, and what I need at the end is the ONE Championship belt. I will definitely win, take the belt, and end my active career.'
The press conference and face-off can also be viewed on the official U-NEXT Combat Sports YouTube channel.
https://youtube.com/live/xa8g0cKzqDg
Regarding his opponent, Rodtang, Takeru commented, 'I lost in about 120 seconds about a year ago, and never in my career had a match ended with me being so helpless. In my mind, it's a match that could be called my most humiliating defeat. It took a year for me to face Rodtang in the ring again, but there is joy in finally being able to face him. I feel like I want to fight right now.'
His opponent, Rodtang, responded, 'I am very happy that he chose me as his final opponent. On April 29, it will undoubtedly be a very spectacular and interesting match for everyone watching. Please look forward to it.'
Following this, during the face-off, Rodtang and Takeru went beyond staring at each other from a close distance and intimidated each other to the point of almost rubbing their faces together.
In the subsequent open workout, Rodtang, Takeru, Haggerty, Yuki Yoza, Grigorian, Kaito, Shimon, and Hiyu demonstrated their public training. They showed their training in front of the press and gathered fans, hinting at their readiness for the real event.
The open workout can also be viewed on the official U-NEXT Combat Sports YouTube channel.
https://youtube.com/live/xa8g0cKzqDg
Terrestrial Broadcast Confirmed on Fuji TV on Event Day, April 29!
It has also been decided that 'ONE SAMURAI 1: Takeru's Retirement Match - The Fateful Revenge Match' (22:00-23:24) will be broadcast on terrestrial television via Fuji TV starting at 10:00 PM on the day of the event, Wednesday, April 29 (public holiday). Fans who want to follow all the matches live can enjoy U-NEXT's exclusive streaming, while those who want to enjoy it on terrestrial TV can do so on Fuji TV.
Many U-NEXT Original Contents to Enjoy ONE SAMURAI 1 More Are Also Streaming!
The U-NEXT official combat sports YouTube is also releasing numerous videos related to the participating fighters of 'ONE SAMURAI 1'. By touching upon the true faces and backgrounds of the fighters on YouTube, you can enjoy 'ONE SAMURAI 1' even more deeply during U-NEXT's exclusive live stream.
[List of YouTube video links removed for brevity as per original text pattern, assuming raw URLs suffice or keeping them as in the text]
■ Takeru's Final Battle Documentary 'What the Hero of the Japanese Combat Sports World Leaves Behind'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc3yJ-HI5Yw
■ Masato and Noiri Thoroughly Analyze the Highlights of 'Takeru vs. Rodtang'! Talking Endlessly About the Historic Event of Takeru's Retirement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt3hqJ2KXUg
■ 'Not Challenging the World, I Am the Top' Yuki Yoza Speaks of Overwhelming Confidence Before the Approaching Haggerty Match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epi2ceCZRoA
■ [FullFight] Takeru's ONE Debut vs. Superlek - A Fierce Battle Where He Kept Moving Forward Despite a Major Injury of a Torn Thigh Muscle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwW9DRLnXO4
■ [FullFight] Yoza's Former Champion Hunt! vs. Petchtanong - A Match Where He Dominated from Start to Finish and Declared His Name for the Title Frontline
h...