‘I Would Need To Figure Him Out’ – Yuki Yoza Braces For Tricky Test Against Nabil Anane At ONE SAMURAI 4
Fight fans have clamored to see former K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza and towering Thai-Algerian star Nabil Anane share the global stage for quite some time. On the stacked ONE SAMURAI 4 card in Tokyo, Japan, they will finally get their wish.
The Japanese striking sensation meets the former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion in a highly anticipated bantamweight kickboxing clash inside the iconic Ariake Arena on Saturday, October 17.
Now that the wait is officially over, the pressure is heavily amplified, with World Title implications written all over this matchup. Yoza came up just short against divisional king Jonathan “The General” Haggerty at ONE SAMURAI 1 this past April, but he answered emphatically with a three-round display against Ben “The Problem” Woolliss at The Inner Circle 22.
Anane, for his part, has been just as hungry for a shot at kickboxing gold — a shared ambition that had the two linked long before this showdown was officially booked. In fact, fans were previously clamoring for the two to lock horns for an interim strap.
However, Yoza passed on the idea at the time, insisting he deserved the first shot at Haggerty and promising to defend his belt against Anane if he won. While that specific timeline never materialized, the buzz surrounding their eventual meeting never faded.
It is easy to see exactly why the matchup caught fire. Yoza stands 5-foot-7 and Anane towers at 6-foot-4, and their stylistic approaches could not look more different, with the Japanese fighter’s blistering precision and devastating calf kicks set directly against Anane’s overwhelming length and versatile striking.
With both men riding strong momentum, the clash practically sold itself. Different as the two are, the 28-year-old Yoza holds Anane in remarkably high regard.
He said:
“My impression of Nabil is that he’s just incredibly tall for this division. I think he has the skills to be one of the top fighters in ONE Championship. But I just think that he’s really very tall.”
Respect is one thing, but the Team Vasileus athlete is certainly not stepping into the Ariake Arena expecting an easy night.
He has done his homework on the Thai-Algerian star, and as the day for battle draws closer, his outlook on the clash is a highly level-headed one.
Yoza explained:
“This fight is going to be fifty-fifty. If I fight the way I want to fight, it’s going to be easy. But if Nabil can do what he wants to do, it’s not going to be easy for me. I would need to figure him out, so it depends.”
A victory would put the Tokyo native right back in the thick of the World Title conversation, ready to make a definitive case for a shot at whoever holds the bantamweight kickboxing crown once the dust settles on October 17.
Haggerty defends his 26 pounds of gold on the exact same card against former titleholder Hiroki Akimoto. Yoza, who has already shared the ring with the reigning king, has a firm view on that main event matchup.
The former K-1 Champion added:
“I want Jonathan Haggerty to win. But to be honest, there really isn’t much of a difference in their skill level.”
Yoza Backs Noiri On A Big Night For Team Vasileus
Yuki Yoza has more than one fight to keep a close eye on at ONE SAMURAI 4. His Team Vasileus teammate, former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri, also steps into the spotlight in a guaranteed barnburner in Tokyo.
The Japanese star locks horns with Mohammad Siasarani in a pivotal semifinal of the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament. Yoza knows the Iranian bruiser will be as tough as they come, but he firmly believes his stablemate is a cut above the rest.
He reflected:
“Mohammad Siasarani is a very strong opponent. That said, I don’t think Siasarani will be a difficult opponent for Noiri. He is tough, but he won’t be a hard fight for Noiri. Of course, Noiri will beat Siasarani.”
Should Noiri clear that hurdle, a spot in the grand final awaits against either Marat Grigorian or “The Handsome White Dragon” Luo Chao, with a guaranteed shot at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon waiting for the tournament winner.
Yoza has already played out the entire bracket in his head, and he has a very clear idea of who he expects to see on the other side.
He continued:
“He will beat Marat Grigorian in the final and get revenge against Superbon. That would be very great and dramatic. As a fighter, I think Noiri goes all the way. As a fan, I want him to go all the way.”
There is one more massive Team Vasileus storyline waiting at ONE SAMURAI 4.
Longtime teammate and Japanese martial arts icon Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa, who signed off his legendary career with the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE SAMURAI 1, will be officially inducted into the ONE Hall of Fame.
With Yoza and Noiri both in high-stakes action, the gym gets to celebrate a living legend and aggressively chase new glory on the exact same night.
