‘I Can Run Circles Around Him’ – Nadaka Vows To Expose Rifdean Masdor At ONE SAMURAI 4
For more than seven years, defeat has been a complete stranger to reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka Yoshinari. Forty-two consecutive opponents have tried to reintroduce the two, yet every single one of them has failed.
The latest challenger attempting to shatter that seemingly unbreakable streak is Malaysian wunderkind Rifdean “Magic Boy” Masdor. The pair will collide when Nadaka defends his crown for the second time at ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17, broadcasting live from Tokyo’s iconic Ariake Arena.
Last month, Nadaka made a bold venture into kickboxing at ONE SAMURAI 3, extending his impeccable run with a dominant unanimous decision over Har Ling Om. Still, the tactical victory left him wanting more, as his opponent never truly matched his relentless intensity.
On a remarkably quick five-week turnaround, the 25-year-old superstar now returns to “the art of eight limbs,” eager to unleash everything the kickboxing rule set kept under wraps. Waiting for him is a dangerous challenger riding a massive wave of his own.
Rifdean has violently torn through the ONE Friday Fights ranks, building a stellar 7-1 record behind five straight victories. His blistering first-round knockout of Javad Mozafari in June earned him a life-changing US$100,000 contract and a coveted spot on the main roster. Nadaka welcomes the ultimate test, but he is taking absolutely nothing for granted.
The defending titleholder said:
“He throws a lot of big techniques, and with those he scores knockdowns and KOs quite often, so I have to watch out. Back elbows, back blows, flying knees, attacks that use his athleticism — those are definitely weapons.
“He has the Muay Thai skills too. But there are things I won’t give up either. That’s how I got here, so that experience, I want to show it more.”
To counter the Sor Sommai representative’s absolute whirlwind of offense, Nadaka leans on a fighting style he believes is truly one of a kind. Built meticulously alongside his team, it seamlessly blends elite distance management and traditional Muay Thai with dynamic movement borrowed from boxing and karate.
While the Japanese southpaw is best known for his blistering speed, Rifdean is about to discover there is far more depth to his game.
He explained:
“Rifdean is a really strong fighter, very confident, the kind who charges in on that confidence. I’ll take it all, dodge it all, and then I will definitely knock him out. My defensive skills too — I want to show that in this fight.”
Nadaka has already successfully run the gauntlet on the grandest stage. He claimed the inaugural crown against Numsurin Chor Ketwina at ONE 173 last November, then emphatically retained it against longtime rival Songchainoi Kiatsongrit at ONE SAMURAI 1 this past April.
Those 10 grueling championship rounds proved the generational talent’s immense grit as much as his technical skill. Against a challenger as inherently dynamic as Rifdean, he is ready to reveal yet another layer of his greatness.
The Eiwa Sports Gym product added:
“His KO rate is very high, and all in the early rounds. He’s got momentum and real firepower, but he hasn’t faced anyone with my speed and my bag of tricks.
“I think I can run circles around him, throw him off, and finish him with my own hands. I’ll be the big wall for him, shut down his challenge, defend my title.”
Nadaka Wants To Keep Japan On Top
Beyond the gold belts and the plethora of accolades, Nadaka Yoshinari holds himself to a much higher standard. The striking phenom wants his legacy defined not only by how often he wins, but by the pristine example he sets along the way.
That specific outlook perfectly fits the Bushido spirit at the very heart of ONE Championship’s monthly Japan series. For Nadaka, discipline and absolute humility matter just as much inside the ring as outside of it.
The Kanagawa native said:
“I want to be a fighter people respect. I don’t trash-talk my opponents. That’s not who I am.
“Through the respect I show for my opponent, I want the kids watching now to feel it and make combat sports as a whole cleaner, a stage where purely strong fighters can shine.”
For both men, this fight carries the profound weight of a nation. A spectacular win would make Rifdean only the second ONE World Champion from Malaysia, following in the footsteps of Interim ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Aliff Sor Dechapan.
Inside the Ariake Arena, two proud flags will fly, but only one elite fighter will leave with 26 pounds of gold strapped to his waist.
Nadaka concluded:
“Takeru was interim champion and retired, so I’m the only active one. If mine gets taken, there’d be no ONE champion in Japan anymore. I’ll defend it for sure, keep the ONE belt in Japan, and show the strength of Japanese combat sports.
“The people of Malaysia, everyone’s behind Rifdean, out in full force. I hope everyone in Japan cheers just as loudly. If I bring out everything I’ve done, I know I can win.”
