ONE Championship Confirms Historic Debut Show in Tokyo, Japan
One Championship is heading to The Land Of The Rising Sun.
At a press conference on Thursday, 23 August, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, Chatri Sityodtong, announced the world’s largest martial arts promotion would host its first live event in Tokyo, Japan, in the first quarter of 2019.
The ONE cage will finally land in the Japanese capital on Sunday, 31 March, next year. It is also scheduled to return later in the year on Friday, 11 October.
Several Japanese athletes from the one roster were in attendance for the announcement, including ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito, former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki, two-time ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title challenger Mei “V.V.” Yamaguchi, and former ONE Middleweight World Title challenger Ken Hasegawa.
Grappling icon Aoki, who is currently riding a two-bout win streak after a pair of first-round stoppages this year, expressed his excitement before his appearance on the stage.
“This is the chance for Japanese martial arts to truly shine,” said Aoki.
“Martial arts is my passion, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help lead martial arts in Asia into the future.
“ONE Championship is a tremendous organization, and now that we are going to have our first live event in Tokyo, it will only help to highlight the beauty of martial arts in Japan.”
He added that he would like to face another mixed martial arts legend from Japan – PRIDE Lightweight World Champion, “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi, when he competes at home next year.
The Japanese contingent was joined by a host of other ONE superstars: ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee, ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera, martial arts legend Renzo Gracie, BJJ World Champion Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon, Kickboxing World Champion Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan, and legendary Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao.
Sityodtong said every single athlete present at the press conference would compete in Tokyo next year, at either event. The full bout card for the March event in Tokyo is expected to be revealed in the early months of 2019.
