ONE Championship officially announced ONE Samurai, a new monthly event series built specifically for Japanese fans, featuring top Japanese martial arts stars alongside elite international competitors in MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling.
The series kicks off on April 29 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, with ONE committing to broadcasting 60 events in the country over the next five years.
Every ONE Samurai card will feature several World Title fights, and all events will air live exclusively on U-NEXT, Japan's leading streaming service. Details of global broadcast will be announced at a later date.
The announcement was accompanied by a significant organizational move. ONE Championship named Shuntaro Tanaka as CEO, Japan and Group Chief Commercial Officer.
The press conference itself was a statement of intent. Reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu, ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka, former three-division K-1 Champion Takeru Segawa, and former K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza were all present, a gathering of Japanese martial arts royalty that illustrated exactly the kind of star power ONE Samurai intends to harness.
Wakamatsu, the reigning flyweight MMA king, spoke about the deeper significance of the series for Japanese athletes and the fans who cheer them on.
"I can embody the dream of becoming 'the modern samurai.' I think this is the best stage to continue defending and proving that Japanese athletes are strong. I want fans to enjoy the battles and feel the courage at ONE Samurai," he said.
For Yoza, ONE Samurai represents an opportunity to step into a larger role within the organization. With Takeru's retirement approaching, the former K-1 Champion is ready to carry the torch.
"I want to elevate ONE Samurai not just by challenging foreign fighters, but by surpassing my seniors. Since Takeru is retiring, I want to become the ace of ONE Samurai," he said.
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