5 Massive Takeaways From ONE 173: Superbon Vs. Noiri
ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri brought a powerful night of martial arts action to Tokyo, Japan, delivering four World Title bouts, high-level striking showcases, and explosive MMA finishes. The atmosphere inside Ariake Arena made it clear why the country remains such an important home for combat sports.
Across the card, World Champions defended their reigns with authority, surging contenders made their cases for future shots at gold, and several divisions shifted in real time. Some athletes strengthened their legacies, while others announced themselves as new threats on the global stage.
It was a night defined by clarity – unanswered questions were resolved, contenders emerged, and championship trajectories sharpened.
Here are the five biggest takeaways from ONE 173.
#1 Superbon Silences All Doubts In Featherweight Kickboxing Division
Superbon arrived in Tokyo with plenty of skepticism around him – a rare position for one of the sport’s most decorated technicians. Some wondered whether Masaaki Noiri had become the new man to beat after knocking out Tawanchai PK Saenchai at ONE 172, especially since Superbon had fallen to the same man in January.
The Thai legend answered those questions with the type of performance that reminds you why he’s still the standard.
What stood out wasn’t just his accuracy or shot selection; it was his command of the matchup’s rhythm. Every time Noiri tried to build momentum, Superbon cut off the beat before it dropped. His composure never wavered, his reads sharpened as the rounds stacked up, and by the championship rounds, the Thai star had built a lead that felt unmistakable.
Unifying the belt means Superbon didn’t just reclaim the top spot – he reminded the featherweight field that the mountain still runs through him.
#2 Nadaka Announces Himself As Muay Thai’s Next Generational Great
Every so often, a fighter steps into a World Championship bout and delivers a performance that feels like a preview of the next decade. Nadaka authored one of those nights. His victory for the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title carried the calm confidence of someone who knows he’s nowhere near his ceiling.
The Japanese phenom fought Numsurin Chor Ketwina with a maturity that belied his age. His feints, defensive angles, and ability to pick the right shot hinted at a fighter who doesn’t rush because he’s always a step ahead. It’s rare to see a 24-year-old command distance with this much ease.
What elevates Nadaka beyond that is the body of work behind him — a 40-fight winning streak over six years, now paired with a ONE World Title earned in masterful fashion. Those are the credentials of a generational great – someone whose skill set might define a division rather than just compete in it.
#3 Elite Finishing Power Separates MMA World Champions From Contenders
Two MMA World Title bouts ended the same way, not because of coincidence but because Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu and Christian “The Warrior” Lee share a trait that separates World Champions from everybody else — decisiveness when it matters.
ONE 173 showcased that finishing power is what stretches the gap between the belt holders and the pack behind them. ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Wakamatsu recovered from early turbulence against strawweight king Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and flipped the fight with trademark ferocity. When he hurt Pacio in round two, he cut off space, forced transitions, and ended the bout with precision knees.
ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Lee delivered his own reminder of why he rules the throne. Once he foiled Alibeg Rasulov’s wrestling entries and found his rhythm, the defending king moved into finishing mode, threatening a choke, battering with grounded knees, and leaving no opportunity for a comeback.
Both MMA kings overcame adversity. Both closed the show with US$50,000 bonus-winning performances. And both proved, once again, that the ones wearing gold tend to be the ones who refuse to wait for scorecards.
#4 Yoza’s Unstoppable Rise Continues With Superlek Upset
Yuki Yoza shifted the entire bantamweight kickboxing conversation with one masterful performance against the #5-ranked divisional contender and reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion, “The Kicking Machine” Superlek.
There’s a difference between catching a great fighter on an off night and out-working one over three rounds. Yoza did the latter, and that makes this win a career-defining pivot.
He didn’t get drawn into Superlek’s rhythm, didn’t overreact to feints, and refused to let the Thai star dictate distance. Instead, he planted himself in a stance that made him difficult to move and fired back with timing honed through countless hours of preparation.
With 13 straight wins over names like the previously undefeated Elbrus “The Samurai” Osmanov and former divisional ruler Petchtanong Petchfergus, Yoza’s resume now looks like a checklist of elite scalps. The momentum behind him is the natural result of solving one high-level puzzle after another.
And after defeating a pound-for-pound great, he’s now sitting right at the doorstep of the World Title picture.
#5 Anane Proves Two-Sport Dominance Is Within Reach
Nabil Anane walked into his featherweight kickboxing debut already carrying expectations, but he walked out looking like someone built for double-champ ambitions. His skill set translated across disciplines with troubling ease.
Against former K-1 Champion Hiromi Wajima, the reigning and undisputed ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion showed that being tall isn’t an advantage unless you know how to weaponize it. His long-range tools didn’t feel forced or mechanical; they behaved like extensions of his timing. Kicks darted into range, punches arrived in smooth combinations, and Wajima rarely got close enough to complicate things.
What makes Anane’s performance so compelling is the sense that he’s nowhere near his limit. He’s 21, 6-foot-4, and now riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Some fighters adapt between Muay Thai and kickboxing. Anane moves like someone who hardly notices the difference.
