ONE SAMURAI 4 Results: Anane, Hirata, And Sinsamut Victorious, Abe Bags US$100,000 Contract
Saturday night inside Ariake Arena crackled with energy before the ONE World Title matchups even began. ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17, in Tokyo, Japan, delivered fireworks from the opening bout to the last undercard match.
A towering Thai-Algerian striker used every inch of his reach to snap a losing streak and keep himself in the bantamweight kickboxing conversation, a Japanese judoka settled a score in a rematch that had been a long time coming, and a Thai veteran who once contemplated walking away from the sport knocked out a Japanese debutant with a single head kick to silence any doubts about his future.
Here’s what went down in the Japanese capital.
Anane Leverages Towering Reach To Outpoint Yoza
Nabil Anane made his towering frame count, using range and reach to outpoint Yuki Yoza by unanimous decision in a bantamweight kickboxing clash.
The former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion set up shop on the outside in the opening round, stinging the Japanese star with punches and high kicks. Every time the Team Vasileus martial artist tried to close the gap, the lanky 22-year-old met him with sharp knees to the body.
Still, Yoza gnawed his way through the wall in the second. The K-1 Champion began landing calf kicks that started to show their damage as the Venum Training Camp and Team Mehdi Zatout star hopped away between exchanges.
Anane returned to the game plan that had served him well in the opener in the final round, but it held for only 30 seconds before the 28-year-old started targeting his towering frame with calf kicks again, adding body hooks as he worked his way inside.
After three entertaining rounds, all three judges sided with Anane, who improved to 42-7 in his career.
Hirata Exacts Revenge Against Jihin To Boost World Title Hopes
Four years after dropping a split decision to Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan, Itsuki “Android 18” Hirata settled the score with a unanimous decision victory in a women’s atomweight MMA rematch, earning the ninth win of her career.
The Fairtex Training Center and Foxgloves Fight Gym representative stood on the outside in the early stages, stinging her rival with punches and kicks and avoiding the judoka’s takedown attempts. However, Hirata began finding her shots midway through the fight, scoring takedowns and hunting for submissions to swing momentum in her favor.
Jihin tried to keep the contest standing in the later rounds, but the 27-year-old Japanese star continued to score takedowns and even matched her opponent on the feet when the fight stayed upright.
The victory keeps Hirata firmly in the conversation for a shot at the divisional gold ahead of the vacant ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title fight between Chihiro Sawada and Anastasia “Anniemale” Nikolakakos at ONE SAMURAI 6 on Wednesday, December 2.
Sinsamut Detonates Matsukura With Head Kick, Bags US$50,000 Bonus
Sinsamut “Aquaman” Klinmee silenced any talk of retirement with a stunning second-round knockout of Shintaro “Smiling Warrior” Matsukura in lightweight kickboxing action and earned the fifth US$50,000 performance bonus of his ONE Championship career.
The Venum Training Camp and Team Mehdi Zatout veteran stalked his Team Vasileus opponent around the ring in the first round, blasting him with body kicks and right punches. The K-1 Champion, however, never cared to retaliate, perhaps saving his best for round two.
Instead, the fireworks belonged to Sinsamut when action resumed. As the Japanese debutant fired off a calf kick, the Thai uncorked a thunderous right head kick that sent Matsukura crashing to the canvas. The referee waved it off at the 1:17 mark of round two, and an elated “Aquaman” dropped to the mat in jubilation.
It was the perfect statement from a man who once contemplated calling it a day. Snapping a two-fight skid in the most emphatic way possible, Sinsamut improved to 84-22.
Abe Earns US$100,000 Contract With First-Round Knockout
Kota “Star” Abe scored a career-defining triumph in his lightweight MMA clash inside the Japanese capital, stopping Shozo “Great Teacher” Isojima via TKO at 1:34 of round one to earn the coveted US$100,000 main roster contract.
The Tribe Tokyo MMA product opened with a looping right hand that floored the N-Trust veteran and jumped straight in with ground-and-pound. Isojima scrambled back to his feet, but a final right hand cut through his guard and sent him down for the last time as the referee waved the bout off.
As a result, the 28-year-old kept his 100 percent finishing rate intact and nudged his record to 7-1. Now armed with a coveted main roster deal, Abe is ready to stake his claim among the division’s best.
Okumura Outclasses Tamaru, Returns To Winning Ways
Shoma “The Destroyer of the Gale” Okumura put on a composed display of footwork and counter-striking to outpoint Toki “Jet Boy” Tamaru by unanimous decision in a strawweight kickboxing clash.
He entered a flow state for nearly nine minutes, using angles and counters to outclass the Team Vasileus representative at every turn. Near the end of the final round, the 24-year-old Tamaru woke up and began firing back, but the damage to the scorecards was already done.
The win gets the 20-year-old Team Teppen athlete back in the winner’s circle, bumping his all-striking record to 10-3. It also marks his fifth victory in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Nishiyama Shuts Down Takeuchi In 58 Seconds
Ryoto Nishiyama improved to 6-2 and kept his momentum rolling, stopping Yu “Crazy Buster” Takeuchi via knockout at 0:58 of round one in a flyweight MMA clash.
The Paraestra Hachioji affiliate connected with a right high kick that left the Toikatsu Dojo debutant’s legs scrambling to find his torso. A right hook to the chin followed and dropped Takeuchi to the canvas. From there, the 26-year-old pounced with ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in to wave off the contest.
With the victory, Nishiyama extended his win streak to five and made it two successive highlight-reel triumphs on the global stage. This comes after he announced himself to ONE with a finish at ONE Friday Fights 168 this past August.
Takeura Debuts With A Slick Heel Hook
Masaki Takeura made an immediate impression in his ONE debut, submitting Yoshinari “Garittochu” Fukushima via heel hook at 5:13 of their all-Japanese lightweight submission grappling clash.
The 31-year-old JTT product took the fight to the canvas and worked from inside guard before transitioning to a rear-naked choke attempt that earned him a catch from the referee.
On the ensuing scramble, he secured the leg and locked in the match-winning submission, getting ONE SAMURAI 4 off to a flyer.
