Haggerty Vs. Akimoto: 4 Keys To Victory In ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title Fight At ONE SAMURAI 4
ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty defends his throne against the man who once ruled it, former divisional king Hiroki Akimoto, in the highly anticipated main event of ONE SAMURAI 4.
With 26 pounds of gold on the line, the blockbuster showdown goes down live from the iconic Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, October 17. ONE SAMURAI 4 will be available to members of The Inner Circle at live.onefc.com.
After conquering two divisions in Muay Thai, Haggerty has remained unbeaten in kickboxing under the ONE banner. The British superstar knocked out Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade for the vacant bantamweight crown, then turned back formidable challengers “Demon Blade” Wei Rui and Yuki Yoza. Now, he makes his third defense of his kickboxing belt against a rival he has eyed for years.
Akimoto, meanwhile, has fought hard to return to this level. After losing the belt to Petchtanong Petchfergus in 2022 and dropping consecutive defeats, the Japanese technician rebuilt with a three-fight winning streak over former bantamweight MMA king John “Hands of Stone” Lineker, Wei, and Taimu Hisai.
Their clashing styles set the stage for a tactical war on one of the year’s biggest cards. Here are the four keys that will decide who gets his hand raised in the Japanese capital.
#1 Haggerty’s Angle-Creating Stance Switches
Haggerty’s dazzling footwork sits at the heart of his game. Shifting between orthodox and southpaw, the 29-year-old changes his angles and targets, never leaving the same leg exposed for long.
Yoza learned that the hard way at ONE SAMURAI 1. The Japanese star had built his reputation on punishing calf kicks, but Haggerty brilliantly alternated stances to create confusion, limiting the damage and disrupting Yoza’s rhythm.
Those changes were not purely defensive, either. From southpaw, Haggerty drove forward with knees to the body, then switched leads to fire left kicks that Yoza failed to read in time.
That approach carries over directly to this matchup, as Akimoto also relies on chopping low kicks. Should the champion replicate this game plan, the challenger loses one of his primary scoring weapons.
If Haggerty keeps him guessing with every stance change, Akimoto could spend five rounds chasing a target that refuses to stay still.
#2 Akimoto’s Kyokushin Kicking Variety
Akimoto began training in Kyokushin Karate at age 8, and that foundation shows in a kicking arsenal that attacks the head, body, and legs from every conceivable angle.
His chambered right round kick slips through small gaps in the guard to punish the arm and ribs. Down low, he steps off the centerline to chop the lead leg or switches forward to target the rear thigh.
Against Hisai, the 34-year-old landed 14 hard right body kicks in the opening round alone, setting the tone for a hard-fought split-decision win.
That variety offers a direct answer to Haggerty’s movement. Kicks to the lower half sap a target’s legs and gas tank, while attacking multiple angles means a stance switch cannot escape every threat. Whenever the Englishman shifts to southpaw, his liver opens up to Akimoto’s right kick.
Should the Japanese challenger slow Haggerty down early, the champion’s footwork could lose its edge in the championship rounds.
#3 Haggerty’s Sneaky Head Kicks
Haggerty built his Muay Thai legacy on his iconic teep and sharp elbows.
Under kickboxing rules, his boxing has taken center stage, yet he now layers round kicks behind his punishing punches. With opponents fixated on his right hand, their guards leave a path open for his shin.
That weapon sparked the beginning of the end for Andrade at ONE Fight Night 16, where a crushing head kick mid-combination set up one of the finest finishes of his career. Against Wei at ONE 171, the Londoner leaned on it again, landing head kicks to seize control of a tactical chess match.
Akimoto possesses tremendous boxing defense and an iron chin, but focusing too heavily on slipping punches leaves him vulnerable upstairs.
If “The General” successfully draws the challenger’s guard down, a single perfectly disguised head kick could end the night in a flash.
#4 Akimoto’s Timely Counter Knees
Akimoto’s composure under pressure ranks among his greatest assets. As opponents rush forward, he times knees up the middle to meet them the instant they commit, leaving them no chance to block or slip the strike.
Those lightning-quick reflexes have been part of his game since his early days in the promotion. At ONE 172, the Tokyo-based striker drove a knee up the middle late in round two that hurt Lineker, producing one of the fight’s defining moments.
The weapon resurfaced against Hisai, as Akimoto timed counter knees and kicks to regain control in the final round.
Haggerty comes forward whenever he senses a finish, and Akimoto believes that aggression could open the door for him to stop the champion instead. Every lunging combination presents an immediate target for an intercepting knee.
Should Haggerty overcommit on his strikes, Akimoto could punish the mistake with the stoppage he needs to bring the belt back to Japan on October 17.
