2025 Year-In-Review: The Breakout Stars Who Took ONE Championship’s Global Stage By Storm
The world’s largest martial arts organization produced a plethora of unforgettable moments throughout its record-breaking 2025.
But among the established ONE World Champions and decorated veterans, a select group of fighters left their marks and produced some of the most magical chapters of their martial arts careers.
From undefeated runs to multi-sport domination, these six athletes – two tied in the fifth spot – delivered breakouts that will be remembered for years to come.
Let’s celebrate the biggest stars who made 2025 their year.
#1 Nabil Anane
Nabil Anane bulldozed through 2025 undefeated, earning the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship and proving his striking transcends rule sets.
At ONE 170 in January, the Algerian-Thai became the first man to beat Scottish knockout machine Nico “King of the North” Carrillo in the promotion via first-round TKO. After claiming the interim strap in Bangkok, Thailand, he gained redemption against flyweight kickboxing king “The Kicking Machine” Superlek at ONE 172 in Saitama, Japan.
Superlek missed weight in the lead-up to the contest, which saw him stripped of his bantamweight crown. That didn’t matter to Anane, however, who delivered one of his career-best displays. He was elevated to the divisional king three months later.
Then came his kickboxing debut against former ONE World Champion Ilias Ennahachi – a bout that ended in a no contest but showcased his fearlessness in accepting any challenge, anywhere.
The 21-year-old wrapped up his campaign by overcoming Hiromi “Purple Comet” Wajima at ONE 173 in Tokyo this past November. He emerged victorious in a thrilling three-round featherweight kickboxing war that proved he could be equally dangerous in another discipline on the global stage.
#2 Yuki Yoza
Japanese sensation Yuki Yoza carved through bantamweight kickboxing’s elite with precision and ferocity to claim a trio of impressive unanimous decision triumphs across the year.
In his promotional debut, he snapped unbeaten Russian powerhouse Elbrus Osmanov‘s perfect 12-0 record. It was merely an appetizer for the feast that followed, though.
The 28-year-old impressed once more against former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Petchtanong Petchfergus at ONE Friday Fights 116, relying on his speed, explosiveness, and creativity to secure another pivotal win.
He saved the best for last when he shared the Circle alongside Superlek at ONE 173 inside Ariake Arena on November 16. Across three electrifying rounds, the Tokyo-based striker caught “The Kicking Machine” with near-perfect combinations to get his hand raised.
Three dominant victories. Thirteen straight wins. A 22-2 record that tells the story of a fighter who simply refuses to lose. Yoza’s 2025 was a masterpiece, and the Team Vasileus man has positioned himself as the division’s most dangerous contender heading into 2026.
#3 Nadaka
Inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka possesses all the tools that define elite strikers – and in 2025, he wielded them like a master craftsman painting his magnum opus in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
The 24-year-old Japanese phenom arrived with impeccable credentials: 10 Muay Thai World Championships across Rajadamnern Stadium, Lumpinee Stadium, the WBC, and the WMC. But credentials mean nothing without execution, and he executed flawlessly.
Rak Erawan became the first victim of the Japanese warrior’s lightning-fast arsenal, stopped in round three by a laser-straight left punch that electrified the Japanese crowd at ONE 172. In his sophomore outing against another Thai slugger, Banluelok Sitwatcharachai, he controlled three high-tempo rounds with the poise of a seasoned champion.
At ONE Friday Fights 122, Nadaka floored Hamada “Black Panther” Azmani at the 15-second mark of the third round to book his shot at the division’s inaugural gold.
His crowning moment arrived at ONE 173, where he dominated Thai slugger Numsurin Chor Ketwina across five rounds to earn the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title, extending his six-year win streak to 40.
#4 Tye Ruotolo
Tye Ruotolo didn’t just defend his ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Championship in 2025 – he launched an MMA career that’s already sending shockwaves through the lightweight division.
His year started with a successful defense against Canadian powerhouse and multi-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Dante Leon. But that wasn’t enough. The 4-ounce gloves were calling.
Having witnessed his twin brother, lightweight submission grappling king Kade Ruotolo, attain three US$50,000 bonus-winning MMA victories, the 22-year-old followed suit with a 2-0 record in the discipline.
His first triumph came against the previously undefeated Adrian “The Phenom” Lee at ONE Fight Night 35. Ruotolo finished him with a deep rear-naked choke in round two. Two months later in enemy territory at ONE 173, then-unbeaten hometown hero Shozo “Great Teacher” Isojima suffered the same fate as the Tenore athlete drew a tap with the same finishing maneuver.
More impressively, the American BJJ specialist’s striking had become much sharper. Both wins earned the welterweight submission king US$50,000 performance bonuses, and he now sports a perfect 10-0 run inside the promotion.
#5 Stella Hemetsberger And Samet Agdeve
The appetite that defines Stella “Always Hungry” Hemetsberger’s nickname has never been more evident. This past year, she transformed from ONE Friday Fights competitor to ONE World Champion in less than six months.
She kicked things off with a dominant performance against Anna Lia “Tremate” Moretti in strawweight kickboxing. A month later, the 26-year-old Austrian competed under Muay Thai rules at ONE Friday Fights 104.
There, she dropped Vanessa Romanowski with a left hook-right kick combo at 1:44 of round one and secured the coveted US$100,000 contract to compete on ONE’s main roster.
Five months later, the Salzburg native star stood across from Jackie Buntan in the ONE Fight Night 35 main event, fighting for the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship.
Hemetsberger came out on top after an intense back-and-forth five-round contest, which saw her drop Buntan twice in the opening frame en route to a unanimous decision that made her Austria’s first ONE World Champion.
In 2026, she’ll attempt two-sport glory when she competes for Buntan’s strawweight kickboxing gold in the headline attraction of ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on February 13, 2026.
Samet “The King” Agdeve’s maiden appearance saw him do what no man in ONE had ever done: defeat reigning two-sport ONE World Champion Roman Kryklia.
The undefeated Turkish martial artist arrived with 12 knockout wins from a perfect 17-0 slate. Still, not many were convinced he had what it takes to overcome the light heavyweight kickboxing and heavyweight Muay Thai ruler.
However, he rose to the occasion and silenced all critics throughout his five-round duel with the Ukrainian icon in the main event of ONE Fight Night 37 in November.
The 21-year-old made Kryklia look human for once, exposing vulnerabilities in a fighter who had dominated everyone he’d faced.
He slowed him down with calf kicks early and pieced together boxing combinations to earn the unanimous decision nod that crumpled Kryklia’s 15-fight win streak.
Agdeve made history inside Lumpinee, winning the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship in his promotional bow with one of the biggest upsets of 2025.
