April 29 "ONE SAMURAI 1 Rodtang VS Takeru" Takeru defeats Rodtang in a fierce battle, becomes interim champion, and graces his retirement path!
On April 29, 2026, ONE Championship held "ONE SAMURAI 1 Rodtang vs. Takeru" at Ariake Arena. Takeru defeated his rival Rodtang by TKO in the main event, the Flyweight Kickboxing Interim World Championship, marking a victorious end to his retirement fight. Yuya Wakamatsu suffered a shocking KO loss, while Nadaka Yoshinari successfully defended his title.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 02:01
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 17:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 07:15 (13h 43m after Collected)
ONE Championship (Group ONE Holdings) held "ONE SAMURAI 1 Rodtang vs. Takeru" at Ariake Arena on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
In the main card's "Flyweight Kickboxing Interim World Championship," Takeru defeated his arch-rival Rodtang in a fierce battle, brilliantly winning the flyweight belt. Takeru, who has long led the Japanese martial arts world, concluded his retirement fight in the best possible way with a victory.
Meanwhile, Yuya Wakamatsu, who challenged for a world title, suffered a shocking KO loss against the fierce attack of challenger Avazbek, leading to a turbulent turn of events where he lost his title. On the other hand, Nadaka Yoshinari overwhelmingly defeated Sanchai Noi, who was eager for a rematch, establishing an unbreakable record of 41 consecutive wins. Furthermore, Yuki Yoza, who aimed for his long-cherished world title, was unable to break through the wall of champion Jonathan Haggerty, narrowly missing the crown.
We report on the fierce battles of all 15 matches that filled the venue with excitement and tears.
■ Flyweight Kickboxing Interim World Championship: Rodtang VS Takeru
Takeru defeats Rodtang by TKO in 5R 2 minutes 22 seconds. The atmosphere in the venue was at its peak even before the fighters' entrance. As a packed audience watched with bated breath, the curtain rose on a spectacular death match. In Round 1, Takeru applied pressure with low and calf kicks, while Rodtang also stood firm with left hooks. The match moved in Round 2, where Takeru's counter exploded during a fierce exchange, scoring two knockdowns against Rodtang. In Round 3, Takeru roared "Come on!" even while taking hits. In Round 4, there were moments when Takeru staggered from Rodtang's relentless barrage, but he pushed Rodtang to the brink of a knockdown with a late counterattack, continuing a back-and-forth struggle. In the final Round 5, Takeru continued to apply pressure with a roar, scoring a third knockdown and then overwhelming Rodtang with a fierce attack to secure a TKO victory. He collapsed onto the ring, screaming, and ended his career beautifully. After the match, he performed his final moonsault and shed tears as he held the belt.
■ 14th Match: Flyweight MMA World Title Match: Yuya Wakamatsu VS Avazbek Khormirzaev - Khormirzaev defeats Yuya Wakamatsu by KO in 2R 4 minutes 53 seconds
From Round 1, Khormirzaev launched a furious attack. Wakamatsu endured the onslaught but lost pace due to elbow attacks from mount and takedowns by harai goshi. In Round 2, Khormirzaev's attack did not stop. In a back-and-forth struggle where both fighters gave their all and were wobbly, Wakamatsu tried to find a chance with stand-up striking, but after Wakamatsu's right elbow, Khormirzaev dodged and spun with a spinning back elbow! Wakamatsu fell flat on his back. In a shocking KO finish, Wakamatsu failed his second title defense. Khormirzaev became the new champion and earned a performance bonus.
■ 13th Match: Atomweight Muay Thai World Title Match: Nadaka Yoshinari VS Sanchai Noi
Nadaka Yoshinari defeats Sanchai Noi by unanimous decision 3-0
From Round 1, Nadaka circled with light steps, using hit-and-away tactics against Sanchai Noi, who closed the distance. He landed sharp jabs, front kicks, high kicks, and middle kicks. In Round 3, bleeding from Nadaka's nose became noticeable. Sanchai Noi, charging forward, took Nadaka down by clinching. In Round 4, Nadaka landed jabs and middle kicks, but Sanchai Noi gained the upper hand in the clinch. Nadaka's tenkao, elbows, and left straight landed. In the final Round 5, Nadaka dodged Sanchai Noi, who continued to charge like a raging bull, like a matador, and landed attacks. Nadaka won by unanimous decision 3-0, successfully defending his title for the first time.
■ 12th Match: Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title Match: Jonathan Haggerty VS Yuki Yoza
Haggerty defeats Yuki Yoza by unanimous decision 3-0
In Round 1, both fighters exchanged kicks. Yoza's kicks sometimes missed against Haggerty, who repeatedly switched stances and kept his distance. In Round 2, Haggerty countered Yoza's advance with tenkao, but Yoza continued to land low and middle kicks. In Round 3, Haggerty landed punches while retreating with stepping movements to keep his distance. Yoza continued to pursue, relentlessly landing low kicks. In Round 4, Haggerty landed tenkao, jabs, and uppercuts while retreating from Yoza's advance, staying out of Yoza's attack range. In the final Round 5, Yoza increased his pressure and advanced further. When he initiated a close-range exchange, Haggerty responded. The bell rang with no knockdowns from either side. Haggerty won by unanimous decision 3-0, successfully defending his title.
■ 11th Match: Featherweight Kickboxing: Marat Grigorian VS Kaito
Grigorian defeats Kaito by KO in 1R 1 minute 51 seconds
In Round 1, Kaito advanced with his usual strong pressure, engaging in a head-on battle with the powerful Grigorian. In a very close-range exchange, Kaito created rhythm with right calf kicks and left body shots, but Grigorian attacked Kaito with left and right hooks and uppercuts. He struck.
In the main card's "Flyweight Kickboxing Interim World Championship," Takeru defeated his arch-rival Rodtang in a fierce battle, brilliantly winning the flyweight belt. Takeru, who has long led the Japanese martial arts world, concluded his retirement fight in the best possible way with a victory.
Meanwhile, Yuya Wakamatsu, who challenged for a world title, suffered a shocking KO loss against the fierce attack of challenger Avazbek, leading to a turbulent turn of events where he lost his title. On the other hand, Nadaka Yoshinari overwhelmingly defeated Sanchai Noi, who was eager for a rematch, establishing an unbreakable record of 41 consecutive wins. Furthermore, Yuki Yoza, who aimed for his long-cherished world title, was unable to break through the wall of champion Jonathan Haggerty, narrowly missing the crown.
We report on the fierce battles of all 15 matches that filled the venue with excitement and tears.
■ Flyweight Kickboxing Interim World Championship: Rodtang VS Takeru
Takeru defeats Rodtang by TKO in 5R 2 minutes 22 seconds. The atmosphere in the venue was at its peak even before the fighters' entrance. As a packed audience watched with bated breath, the curtain rose on a spectacular death match. In Round 1, Takeru applied pressure with low and calf kicks, while Rodtang also stood firm with left hooks. The match moved in Round 2, where Takeru's counter exploded during a fierce exchange, scoring two knockdowns against Rodtang. In Round 3, Takeru roared "Come on!" even while taking hits. In Round 4, there were moments when Takeru staggered from Rodtang's relentless barrage, but he pushed Rodtang to the brink of a knockdown with a late counterattack, continuing a back-and-forth struggle. In the final Round 5, Takeru continued to apply pressure with a roar, scoring a third knockdown and then overwhelming Rodtang with a fierce attack to secure a TKO victory. He collapsed onto the ring, screaming, and ended his career beautifully. After the match, he performed his final moonsault and shed tears as he held the belt.
■ 14th Match: Flyweight MMA World Title Match: Yuya Wakamatsu VS Avazbek Khormirzaev - Khormirzaev defeats Yuya Wakamatsu by KO in 2R 4 minutes 53 seconds
From Round 1, Khormirzaev launched a furious attack. Wakamatsu endured the onslaught but lost pace due to elbow attacks from mount and takedowns by harai goshi. In Round 2, Khormirzaev's attack did not stop. In a back-and-forth struggle where both fighters gave their all and were wobbly, Wakamatsu tried to find a chance with stand-up striking, but after Wakamatsu's right elbow, Khormirzaev dodged and spun with a spinning back elbow! Wakamatsu fell flat on his back. In a shocking KO finish, Wakamatsu failed his second title defense. Khormirzaev became the new champion and earned a performance bonus.
■ 13th Match: Atomweight Muay Thai World Title Match: Nadaka Yoshinari VS Sanchai Noi
Nadaka Yoshinari defeats Sanchai Noi by unanimous decision 3-0
From Round 1, Nadaka circled with light steps, using hit-and-away tactics against Sanchai Noi, who closed the distance. He landed sharp jabs, front kicks, high kicks, and middle kicks. In Round 3, bleeding from Nadaka's nose became noticeable. Sanchai Noi, charging forward, took Nadaka down by clinching. In Round 4, Nadaka landed jabs and middle kicks, but Sanchai Noi gained the upper hand in the clinch. Nadaka's tenkao, elbows, and left straight landed. In the final Round 5, Nadaka dodged Sanchai Noi, who continued to charge like a raging bull, like a matador, and landed attacks. Nadaka won by unanimous decision 3-0, successfully defending his title for the first time.
■ 12th Match: Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title Match: Jonathan Haggerty VS Yuki Yoza
Haggerty defeats Yuki Yoza by unanimous decision 3-0
In Round 1, both fighters exchanged kicks. Yoza's kicks sometimes missed against Haggerty, who repeatedly switched stances and kept his distance. In Round 2, Haggerty countered Yoza's advance with tenkao, but Yoza continued to land low and middle kicks. In Round 3, Haggerty landed punches while retreating with stepping movements to keep his distance. Yoza continued to pursue, relentlessly landing low kicks. In Round 4, Haggerty landed tenkao, jabs, and uppercuts while retreating from Yoza's advance, staying out of Yoza's attack range. In the final Round 5, Yoza increased his pressure and advanced further. When he initiated a close-range exchange, Haggerty responded. The bell rang with no knockdowns from either side. Haggerty won by unanimous decision 3-0, successfully defending his title.
■ 11th Match: Featherweight Kickboxing: Marat Grigorian VS Kaito
Grigorian defeats Kaito by KO in 1R 1 minute 51 seconds
In Round 1, Kaito advanced with his usual strong pressure, engaging in a head-on battle with the powerful Grigorian. In a very close-range exchange, Kaito created rhythm with right calf kicks and left body shots, but Grigorian attacked Kaito with left and right hooks and uppercuts. He struck.