‘I’m Better Than Him In Every Aspect’ – Yuki Yoza Gunning For A Knockout Against Jonathan Haggerty At ONE SAMURAI 1

After an incredible run in ONE, Yuki Yoza now stands on the verge of defining his legacy.

The former K-1 Champion challenges Jonathan “The General” Haggerty for the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title at ONE SAMURAI 1 on April 29 inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

The 28-year-old has built his case with a string of elite victories. He handed Elbrus “The Samurai” Osmanov his first career loss at ONE Friday Fights 109, then followed with a dominant win over former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Petchtanong Petchfergus.

He most recently defeated reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek at ONE 173. Those performances pushed his record to 22-2 and extended his winning streak to 13, establishing him as one of the most technically complete strikers in the sport.

For Yoza, the journey has been defined less by accolades and more by the level of opposition he has faced:

“All three of my fights leading up to this title match have really been main-event level fights. My opponents were former champions, like my previous opponent. So I’ve had really tough fights consecutively. But that’s expected in ONE.

“Even so, I fought my way through a very tough road to get here and finally reached this long-awaited title match.”

That path has been shaped by discipline and structure. Yoza built his foundation through Kyokushin Karate, a style known for durability and composure under pressure, and those traits remain central to how he approaches high-level competition.

Now he faces the man he has long viewed as the standard in the division:

“‘ONE’s [World] Champion is Jonathan Haggerty.’ That’s always been my perception. And so, I thought, ‘Someday I will defeat him. I want to fight him.'”

“Before I signed with ONE, I went to a ONE [event] as a cornerman for Masaaki [Noiri]. Haggerty was there at the time, so I went up to talk to him. I said something like, ‘I’m getting closer, so let’s do it.’ And he replied, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.'”

Training out of Team Vasileus alongside Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa, Yoza has refined both his technical skill set and his mental approach. The environment has helped shape a fighter who thrives on decision-making and control rather than chaos — a style that could prove critical against a man known for precision and timing.

Haggerty’s ability to manage distance, land clean strikes, and dictate the rhythm of a fight has made him one of the most complete strikers in the sport.

Yoza sees the matchup through a calculated lens:

“I think he’s more of a skilled fighter rather than just a strong fighter. Under ONE’s rules, whether it’s kickboxing or Muay Thai, a fighter who can score points and win consistently is what I consider a very skilled fighter.”

Yoza’s Confidence Shapes His Approach Against Haggerty

Jonathan Haggerty’s technical ability is widely recognized, but Yuki Yoza believes he has identified openings others have not been able to exploit.

The Brit’s composure and control have made him difficult to break, but Yoza sees moments within that structure where reactions can be read under pressure.

He said:

“He’s fairly easy to read through his facial expressions. When he’s in trouble or when he gets hit, it shows on his face. So, I think he’s easy to read in that sense.”

He aims to close the show early but has prepared to compete over five rounds, requiring adjustments in pacing and strategy.

Having faced a range of elite opponents with varying styles, Yoza believes his overall skill set gives him the advantage heading into the bout.

He said:

“Other than his experience in five-round fights, I think I’m better than him in every aspect. Of course, I believe I have the advantage. The reason is: because my opponent is me. And I believe I’m the strongest.

“How do I plan to win? Of course, by KO. And finally this fight is five rounds. People kept saying, ‘Get the finish,’ but I couldn’t get the knockout in my last three fights. This time, I’m really confident.”