ONE SAMURAI 2 MMA Results: Keito Yamakita, Subaru Mori Earn Jaw-Dropping Submission Victories

In a kickboxing-heavy card, the lone two mixed martial arts bouts at ONE SAMURAI 2 did not disappoint.

Keito “Pocket Monk” Yamakita and Subaru Mori secured spectacular submission finishes in the second chapter of ONE Championship’s monthly Japanese event series, forcing their respective rivals to tap out inside Tokyo’s EBARA WAVE Arena Ota on Saturday, August 8.

While both athletes left with their hands raised, their paths to victory could not have been more different. Here is how the MMA action unfolded in the Japanese capital.

Yamakita Submits Tanoue To State Case For World Title Shot

Former Strawweight King of Pancrase Keito “Pocket Monk” Yamakita may have just punched his ticket to a highly anticipated showdown with ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio.

The 30-year-old Japanese grappling specialist submitted Shooto Strawweight Champion Koyuru “Naniwa Speedster” Tanoue with a rare bulldog choke at the 4:37 mark of the opening stanza, securing his fifth consecutive victory and stating an undeniable case for a World Title opportunity.

Just moments after the opening bell, Yamakita backed his compatriot into the corner, dove for the left ankle, and immediately landed a takedown. The “Pocket Monk” relentlessly applied pressure, transitioning to full mount in a hurry. From there, he hunted for a Von Flue choke while punishing his opponent’s ribs with heavy ground strikes.

When that failed to produce a tap, Yamakita moved to half guard, searched for an arm-triangle choke, and continued to unload more body shots. Tanoue bided his time and exploded back to his feet, but he quickly found his neck ensnared in a tight guillotine choke. Showcasing his composure, the “Naniwa Speedster” slid out of the hold and briefly forced his countryman to stand and trade.

The action, however, did not stay on the feet for long. Yamakita returned to his bread and butter, shooting a well-timed double-leg takedown in the corner. He cleverly maneuvered to the 24-year-old promotional newcomer’s back, slid in a hook, and went for a rear-naked choke.

In a stroke of sheer grappling brilliance, “Pocket Monk” kept his grip on the neck, moved his body past Tanoue’s ribs, locked in a crushing bulldog choke, and cranked with all his might. The Shooto Strawweight Champion displayed incredible toughness, but he ultimately had no choice but to tap out.

The spectacular first-round submission pushed Yamakita’s stellar professional record to 13-1. To cap off the statement performance, the Japanese star also took home a US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, seemingly cementing his place as the next challenger for Pacio’s throne.

Mori Overcomes Adversity, Finishes Sato To Maintain Spotless Record

Undefeated judoka Subaru Mori kicked off ONE SAMURAI 2 with a bang, finishing fellow promotional newcomer Yusuke Sato via second-round rear-naked choke in their all-Japan lightweight MMA showdown. However, the 23-year-old had to overcome a tremendous amount of early adversity to keep his perfect record intact.

Just 20 seconds into the contest, Sato – a karate black belt – landed a rocket of a right cross that instantly dropped his rival to the mat. Though Mori immediately returned to his feet, the 27-year-old Japanese-Australian striker aggressively backed him across the ring with punches and kicks.

Relying on his grappling pedigree, the judo black belt timed a takedown, stuck to Sato like glue, and eventually dragged him to the canvas. While Sato scrambled well to get back upright, Mori seamlessly jumped onto his back, locked in his hooks, and fished for a rear-naked choke from the backpack position. The pair eventually rolled to the mat, where Mori transitioned to full mount and hunted for submissions until the bell.

Sato escaped the opening frame, but he would not be so fortunate in the second. The opening moments of round two were tentative, particularly for Mori, whose right eye was practically swollen shut. Seizing the momentum, Sato popped his adversary’s head back with a right hand, walked him down, and fired a right kick. That sequence, however, proved to be a fatal miscalculation.

Mori caught the incoming leg and instantly dragged the striker back to the mat. As Sato attempted to stand and escape, the judoka once again jumped into the backpack position and sank in a tight rear-naked choke. With the submission fully locked, Sato crumbled to the canvas and had no choice but to tap out at the 2:43 mark of round two.

The comeback submission moved Mori’s flawless professional slate to 6-0.