Seven New Bouts Round Out Full Card For ONE SAMURAI 2 On August 8
ONE SAMURAI 1 set a high standard for martial arts excellence when it shook Tokyo this past April. Now, the world’s largest martial arts organization returns to the Japanese capital for its highly anticipated second chapter, ONE SAMURAI 2, broadcasting live from the Ebara Wave Arena Ota on August 8.
Seven newly added bouts join the two previously revealed feature matchups, bringing together Japan’s absolute finest and a dangerous roster of elite international talent. At the epicenter of the blockbuster card is the previously announced ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament, a high-stakes contest where the ultimate victor earns a guaranteed shot at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
The eight-man bracket’s opening round features a pair of blockbuster rematches. Former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri headlines against Liu “Spirit Dragon” Mengyang, while Kaito Ono battles Mohammad Siasarani in a thrilling co-main event.
Leading the fresh wave of additions is a pivotal strawweight MMA clash between Keito “Pocket Monk” Yamakita and promotional newcomer Koyuru Tanoue. Yamakita has built a stellar 5-1 ONE record on the back of a suffocating, relentless grappling style, boasting massive statement wins over former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champions Alex “Little Rock” Silva and Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta.
The 29-year-old phenom rides a flawless four-fight winning streak into the bout, having most recently submitted highly touted compatriot Ryohei Kurosawa at ONE SAMURAI 1. Another dominant, highlight-reel showing could potentially put him directly next in line to challenge undisputed ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio for 26 pounds of gold.
However, that surging momentum will be severely tested by Tanoue, a hungry Osaka native eager to instantly fast-track his own World Title dreams by delivering an unforgettable statement debut against one of the division’s absolute hottest names.
Turning to the bantamweight kickboxing ranks, Ranma looks to continue his blistering, meteoric rise when he locks horns with Katsuki Kitano.
The 21-year-old Team Teppen product has rattled off three consecutive victories since arriving on the promotion’s weekly circuit, capped by a jaw-dropping 61-second knockout of Yi Nuo at ONE Friday Fights 155 that rightfully earned him a life-changing US$100,000 contract. Ranma now aims to aggressively build on that massive surge in his first main-roster test.
Standing firmly in his path is Kitano, the 2022 Road to ONE: Japan winner who showcased a brilliantly well-rounded arsenal during his unanimous decision victory over Halil Kutukcu. Following back-to-back decision losses in the Muay Thai ranks, the 30-year-old veteran now looks to hit the reset button with a permanent switch to kickboxing, fully hoping this fresh discipline sparks a definitive career revival.
Elsewhere on the loaded lineup, Ayumu Yamamoto and Ryo Hirayama meet in a crucial bantamweight MMA battle, with both hungry athletes looking to fiercely bounce back after dropping their respective ONE debuts. In the featherweight kickboxing division, former three-weight Shootboxing king Hiroki Kasahara takes on highly touted debutant Ryuto Shiokawa, who arrives fully ready to leave his mark on the global stage.
Rounding out the stacked card, six-figure contract winner Shoma Okumura looks to extend his pristine 4-0 promotional record against fellow Japanese striker Reiji in a fast-paced strawweight kickboxing duel. Exciting newcomer Subaru Mori also makes his global debut against Yusuke Sato in lightweight MMA, while battle-tested Thai veteran Suarek brings decades of ring experience into hostile territory against hometown favorite Yuri Tanaka in featherweight kickboxing.
With this incredible level of elite firepower on display from top to bottom, ONE SAMURAI 2 is officially shaping up to be another can’t-miss night of martial arts action in the Japanese capital.
ONE SAMURAI 2 Full Card
- Masaaki Noiri vs. Liu Mengyang (ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament quarterfinal)
- Kaito Ono vs. Mohammad Siasarani (ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament quarterfinal)
- Kosuke Takagi vs. Luo Chao (ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament quarterfinal)
- Keito Yamakita vs. Koyuru Tanoue (MMA – strawweight)
- Ayumu Yamamoto vs. Ryo Hirayama (MMA – bantamweight)
- Shoma Okumura vs. Reiji (kickboxing – strawweight)
- Subaru Mori vs. Yusuke Sato (MMA – lightweight)
- Hiroki Kasahara vs. Ryuto Shiokawa (kickboxing – featherweight)
- Ranma vs. Katsuki Kitano (kickboxing – bantamweight)
- Suarek vs. Yuri Tanaka (kickboxing – featherweight)
