Japanese Kickboxing Superstar Kana Morimoto Signs With ONE Championship

Kana Morimoto, known as KANA, is the latest Japanese superstar to ink a deal with ONE Championship.  

After dominating the kickboxing circuit in her homeland, the 32-year-old is eager to test her skills among the world’s elite in the promotion’s stacked striking divisions. 

KANA enters ONE with an impressive resume.  

Turning pro in 2015 after a successful amateur career, the Matsusaka native quickly began winning gold in the paid ranks, capturing the Krush Flyweight Title on two occasions. 

The rising star then moved to K-1 – Japan’s most iconic stand-up organization – where she wasted no time going after fresh accolades.  

In 2019, KANA beat a stacked field that included current ONE athlete Cristina Morales to win the K-1 Women’s Flyweight Tournament Championship and the division’s belt.  

She then notched three successful defenses against elite challengers from around the world to solidify her position as one of the top pound-for-pound women’s strikers on the planet. 

KANA has not competed since her last appearance with K-1 in December 2023, but last month, she revealed she had parted ways with the organization in search of new challenges. 

With a 22-4 record, the Japanese striker was vocal about her desire to sign with ONE, and in particular, to arrange a clash with Anissa “C18” Meksen – another of the sport’s pound-for-pound greats.  

Although no official debut has been confirmed, that matchup is now within touching distance, as are potential super-fights with ONE’s other world-class women. 

KANA has been preparing for the hard road ahead with current and former ONE World Champions Superbon and Petchtanong Petchfergus at Superbon Training Camp in Thailand, so fans can expect to see the best version of her in action.

Stay tuned to onefc.com for all the updates on KANA’s next move in the world’s largest martial arts organization.