‘My True Self Will Come Out’ – Itsuki Hirata On Her Struggles And Comeback At ONE SAMURAI 1
Japanese fan favorite Itsuki “Android 18” Hirata has opened up about stepping away from mixed martial arts, rediscovering her love of fighting, and the mission that awaits her at ONE SAMURAI 1.
The 26-year-old will face Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat in an atomweight MMA clash on Wednesday, April 29, live from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Hirata’s career has been a tale of two halves. The judoka burst onto the professional MMA scene with an electrifying run, winning six of her first seven matches and establishing herself as one of the most exciting young talents in ONE Championship’s atomweight MMA division.
Then came a painful stretch that tested her resolve to its limits, dropping four of her next five contests and pushing her to a breaking point few athletes are willing to admit.
She confessed:
“There was a time when I stopped training and stepped away from fighting for a while. Back then, I kept losing, and I just lost confidence and didn’t feel like I could push myself toward a fight. I wasn’t enjoying it at all, and there was a time I didn’t even want to do it.
“I think I looked like I was having more fun in my debut fight. I fought without fear, but after experiencing losses, I started becoming more cautious and a bit more afraid.”
The Tokyo native knows the joy that made her special in the early days of her promotional tenure is still inside her, and she is determined to bring it back out in front of her hometown crowd.
Hirata recognized that fear and anxiety have held her back from performing at her best, and breaking through that mental wall has become just as important as any physical preparation.
The judoka shared:
“I still want to show more in my fights. And to do that, I have to break through my fear and anxiety and show everything I’ve got, as much as I possibly can in the fight. But that’s kind of the wall I’m facing right now, so it’s not easy. But once I overcome it, I think my true self will come out more.”
Hirata Plans To Exploit Phogat’s Weakness Outside Of Wrestling
Itsuki Hirata has studied Ritu Phogat’s fighting style extensively during her preparation for April 29.
The Japanese star recognizes exactly what makes the Indian wrestler so dangerous, but she has also identified some glaring weaknesses she plans to exploit. More specifically, she believes Phogat’s one-dimensional approach creates massive vulnerabilities she can take advantage of.
Hirata explained:
“She’s strong in wrestling – you can tell from her background, especially with her takedowns. Rather than striking, her grappling is strong. I think her wrestling is her biggest weapon, plus her physical strength, so I’m definitely cautious about that. Her strength is her wrestling, so I want to outperform her in other areas.
“I think her weakness is outside of wrestling. I still see her as a wrestler, and I’ve just been training to execute what I want to do. So, I have not really changed.”
While Phogat excels at achieving takedowns and maintaining top position, the Tokyo native believes her judo background provides more tools for finishing fights once the grappling exchanges begin.
Hirata expects “The Indian Tigress” to immediately pursue takedowns, attempting to drag the action into the wrestling-heavy exchanges where she feels most comfortable. “Android 18,” however, welcomes those scenarios rather than fearing them.
The Japanese star offered:
“I expect her to grapple, but in those situations, I believe I’ll have my chances, so I want to be fully prepared even if I get taken down. In striking and on the ground, I feel like I have more options, but in the end, you never know until you engage.
“I want to finish the fight with my grappling, which is my strength, and get the win, so I can move forward to the next one. I want to win and share that moment with everyone. I want to go all out from the start, focus only on winning, and fight hard for five minutes in all three rounds.”
