‘I Want To Close The Show In Style’ – Nadaka Ready To Give Yokohama A Night To Remember At ONE SAMURAI 3
For six dominant years, Japanese megastar Nadaka has treated the striking world as his personal kingdom. This weekend, he sets his sights on conquering entirely new territory.
The reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion opens his promotional kickboxing account against Myanmar powerhouse Har Ling Om in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 3. The blockbuster spectacle emanates live from Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama, Japan, on Saturday, September 12.
Nadaka brings a pristine 5-0 promotional slate into the contest, extending a historic 41-fight winning streak that dates back to July 2019. Across an illustrious 67-6 career, the Japanese prodigy has cemented himself as one of the most revered tacticians on the planet.
Now, the pride of Eiwa Sports Gym is eager to etch another defining milestone into his combat sports legacy. Yet shifting rule sets naturally recalibrates the equation, and even an elite master cannot entirely brush aside the nerves that accompany uncharted waters.
He told onefc.com:
“There is real anxiety around the rules being totally different. I’m worried about committing fouls – that’s real, yeah. But it’s not exactly a problem. Kickboxing puts a lot more weight on physicality, so I need real strength when contact happens so I don’t lose the exchange.
“There are moments technique alone can handle, but a Muay Thai guy has an edge using his own tools there. So that’s something I need to think through.”
That subtle stylistic tension — trusting familiar instincts while adapting to a tighter framework — fuels the drama of this collision.
Har Ling Om, forged in the unforgiving furnace of bare-knuckle Lethwei, makes his own kickboxing foray, while Nadaka carries the prestige of his stadium-honed Muay Thai pedigree into the ring.
Though he believes his mastery of “the art of eight limbs” grants him an innate rhythm, the Japanese technician is eager to unveil the kickboxing weapons he has meticulously sharpened in camp:
“My Muay Thai tools could stop his forward pressure outright, but doing that within kickboxing rules is really the key challenge of this whole fight, and that’s exactly what I want to show.
“What people really want to see is how I use my speed to shut down his advance and turn that into a finish. That’s going to take a deep bag of tools, quick in-and-out footwork, and real one-shot power, and I’m super locked in on all of that this time.”
That supreme confidence does not mean the multi-time World Champion is overlooking the threat standing across from him.
A foundation rooted in Lethwei breeds immense durability and relentless forward momentum rather than classical elegance, and Nadaka has taken note of his dance partner’s rugged grit.
The 25-year-old continued:
“He has fought under Lethwei-style rules, so I imagine he’s genuinely tough. His uppercut and a couple of specific attacks he uses [are really good]. He’s built an image as someone who just relentlessly grinds forward.
“That steady pressure is honestly the annoying part – a guy with clear rhythm in and out is easier to time. So that’s what I’m watching for. I want to prevent him from closing the distance.”
Nadaka Calls His Shot, Talks Two-Sport Dominance
Having mapped out the blueprint to manage distance, Nadaka envisions a dramatic finish to the action-packed evening against Har Ling Om in Yokohama.
His recent outings pushed him through demanding five-round World Title tests, and the atomweight king is hungry to swap strategic scorecards for an exclamation mark.
Nadaka declared:
“I’m absolutely aiming for a knockout. I’ve had a lot of decision wins lately, so I want to really rediscover that feeling of putting someone away for good.”
A concussive stoppage would send shockwaves through the division, inching him toward rare air as a potential two-sport World Champion.
While simultaneous divisional crowns remain an alluring prize, Nadaka insists his heart stays firmly aligned with the heritage that made him a global icon.
He offered:
“If the chance is there [to become a two-sport World Champion], sure. But, honestly, I’m not that attached to kickboxing itself as a discipline. Muay Thai is still what I love most. But being offered this kickboxing fight is something I’m genuinely grateful for.
“My real goal, first and foremost, is to show the world just how strong and how appealing Muay Thai really is, and I don’t want to lose sight of that.”
With the event taking place just miles from his hometown of Yokosuka, the ONE Championship 2025 Muay Thai Fighter of the Year carries an electric sense of pride into the arena, fueled by familiar faces in the crowd.
Nadaka concluded:
“Competing in Yokohama matters a lot – my actual hometown is Yokosuka – but a lot of friends and people who know me are going to come out for this. Getting to be the guy trusted to headline a ONE SAMURAI event is a huge honor, so I want to close the show in style.”
