Nadaka Retains Atomweight Muay Thai World Title With Masterful Display Against Songchainoi At ONE SAMURAI 1
Nadaka Yoshinari successfully made the first defense of his ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title, outpointing challenger “Mini-Hulk” Songchainoi Kiatsongrit by unanimous decision in a five-round battle at ONE SAMURAI 1, which broadcast live from Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Wednesday, April 29.
The rematch had been three years in the making. Nadaka had knocked Songchainoi down three times to win their first meeting at a regional show in Tokyo back in April 2023, and now, with the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship on the line, the Thai challenger had come to the Japanese capital to even the score.
Songchainoi played it safe in round one, tracking the evasive divisional ruler around the ring like a shadow while testing his responses. Nadaka, for his part, offered little for the challenger to work with, as he countered with intention whenever an opening presented itself.
The pattern continued into the second. The 25-year-old Eiwa Sports Gym product negated every opportunity Songchainoi had to land cleanly – and even when he missed, he was never there when the Thai countered. “Mini-Hulk” did find some success with solid knees in the clinch, and a thunderous right hand briefly drew the Japanese superstar’s attention, but he remained in control.
Nadaka began doubling up on his kicks in the third stanza to keep the challenger off his back, but the shorter, stockier Thai kept pressing. The 25-year-old Samut Prakan native grew more dominant in the clinch, outwrestling the reigning king when they locked up.
The fourth was the most competitive of the championship rounds. The duo went kick-for-kick at the bell, volleying them back and forth before Songchainoi shifted his focus to the body. Nadaka responded by pumping sharp punches into his challenger’s face to reassert his authority.
Songchainoi came out firing in the fifth and final round, attacking relentlessly while Nadaka used his clinch work to neutralize the pressure. The Kiatsongrit Muay Thai Gym representative had the heart, but he never quite figured out the distance. Ultimately, Nadaka had all the tools to defend his gold on home soil.
The victory was a defining moment for the Japanese atomweight king. Having already made history last November by ripping through Numsurin Chor Ketwina to claim the division’s inaugural crown, Nadaka now stands alone as the undisputed ruler of the division. With the triumph, he improved his record to 67-6 and put himself on a shocking 41-bout winning streak.
