ONE SAMURAI 3 Main Event Result: Nadaka Yoshinari Dominates Har Ling Om In Kickboxing Debut
Reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka Yoshinari made a statement in his kickboxing debut, defeating Har Ling Om via unanimous decision in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 3, which aired live from Yokohama Buntai in Japan on Saturday, September 12.
Both men entered the bout stepping into unfamiliar territory. Nadaka, widely considered Japan’s greatest Muay Thai practitioner, was making his first foray into professional kickboxing. Har Ling Om, a Lethwei and Muay Thai veteran from Myanmar, arrived in enemy territory believing his heavier hands could shock the Japanese star in front of his own fans.
In round one, the man who hasn’t lost in seven years adapted to the new rule set well, using his straight left to snap his opponent’s head back while teasing teeps into Har Ling Om’s midsection. A big right hand from the 28-year-old Myanmar slugger showed Nadaka his opposite number had genuine power, but it did little to change the outcome.
The Eiwa Sports Gym representative picked up two warnings for excessive clinching in round two. However, he quickly returned to the game plan, doubling up on left kicks and continuing to pepper his foe with the same piston-like straight left he used in the first three minutes. Har Ling Om played to the crowd, but he did little to sway the judges.
Round three saw Nadaka’s class shine through. He danced around his opponent, landing punches upstairs and low kicks downstairs before mixing in push kicks to the face. The 25-year-old went nearly untouched in the frame, leaving a frustrated Har Ling Om with no answer but to absorb the punishment.
The judges were unanimous in their scoring, and the Japanese star’s victory marked the first step of his pursuit for two-sport dominance in ONE Championship. He closed the show in style in front of his home crowd, elevated his all-striking record to 68-6, and finds himself on a 42-bout winning streak.
