‘Show The Gap’ – Hyu Looks To Prove His Superiority Over Taiki Naito At ONE SAMURAI 1
An explosive all-Japanese flyweight kickboxing showdown is set to electrify the Ariake Arena when undefeated phenom ”Mister Pepper” Hyu Iwata steps into the ONE Championship ring against decorated veteran Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito.
The high-stakes battle will take center stage at ONE SAMURAI 1, which broadcasts live from Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, April 29.
With both strikers looking to climb the divisional ladder and break into the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title conversation, the pressure surrounding this battle between home favorites remains intense.
For the Osaka native, this matchup represents more than just another step toward the ultimate prize. It offers an opportunity to silence any remaining doubters and cement his status as the most dangerous new arrival in the weight class.
In fact, fans have actively clamored for this exact pairing since Hyu first stepped onto the global stage in September 2024.
Bringing a flawless 13-0 record into the contest, the karate specialist has built a reputation as an exciting finisher. His resume already features a dominant victory over Kanta Motoyama – one of Naito’s former teammates – which naturally laid the groundwork for this budding rivalry.
Hyu understands exactly why Japanese fans demanded this battle, and he recognizes the caliber of the opponent standing across the ring.
He explained:
“When the possibility of fighting him came up, there was a lot of fan noise about wanting to see that fight. And even from when I first came to ONE, I started hearing voices saying they wanted to see me against Naito.
“Naito is the one who stands out the most among Japanese fighters. I’m fully aware of that.”
To secure his sixth consecutive victory in the world’s largest martial arts organization and keep his spotless record intact, Hyu must solve one of the most experienced puzzles in the flyweight ranks.
Boasting a 38-14 career record, Naito has traded leather with some of the best fighters the sport has to offer. The 30-year-old Bell Wood Fight Team product, who has a Shoot Boxing Title and RISE Tournament Championship on his resume, is a counter-striker who relies on timing, distance management, and a notoriously heavy left hand.
While many opponents struggle to navigate Naito’s defensive shell, Hyu views his countryman’s style not as a complex mystery, but as a deeply flawed system waiting to be dismantled.
“Mister Pepper,” who represents Team Mehdi Zatout and TEAM3K, explained:
“He’s a defense-first fighter, but when he does let [the left hook] go, he commits fully. I’m making sure I don’t get caught with a flash knockdown from that.
“He’s weak against physical exchanges, body-to-body contact. And the only real threat in his attack is that left hook. Funnily enough, his left hook being his strength actually becomes an opportunity for me to land my counter. So overall, he has more weaknesses than strengths.”
Hyu’s supreme confidence stems directly from the countless hours spent refining his craft in the gym.
He seamlessly blends his traditional full-contact karate foundation with modern kickboxing fundamentals. Whether he throws a thudding left body kick or delivers a flying knee, the 23-year-old trusts his vast offensive arsenal to overwhelm Naito’s patient, methodical guard.
That being said, he refuses to overcomplicate the game plan, believing his physical tools simply outmatch the veteran’s capabilities in every single phase of combat:
“My overall ability is superior across the board. I just need to make sure I don’t get dropped or lose a point from that one punch. That’s it.
“I’m training to build overall ability whether I have a fight coming up or not. I’m always pushing myself. That’s where my confidence comes from.”
Hyu To Leave No Room For Excuses Against Naito
Despite Hyu Iwata’s unblemished record and an 80 percent finishing rate in ONE Championship, the Japanese star steps into the Ariake Arena carrying a massive chip on his shoulder.
“Mister Pepper” feels his true quality as a fighter is still largely misunderstood by fans watching from the outside. A quick, chaotic finish might leave room for critics to call it a lucky shot, so the undefeated phenom intends to deliver a performance so thoroughly dominant that it eliminates any possibility of an excuse. He wants to break Naito down systematically before finding the inevitable knockout.
Hyu continued:
“I feel like I’m being underestimated, so I want to clearly show the gap in our levels. If it ends too quickly, Naito might say, ‘I just got caught,’ or find some excuse. So, I want to make sure there’s no room for any of that. Show the technique, show the gap, and then finish it in a way he can’t argue with.”
When the bell finally rings at the Ariake Arena and Hyu touches gloves with Naito, ready to come out of his corner firing, he expects nothing less from his opponent than an all-out war.
But there is no outcome where Hyu sees himself losing this bout, and he’s prepared to unleash his full arsenal until he achieves what he set out to do.
The Osaka native said:
“I’m thinking about two patterns for the finish. Either something lands clean in round one – a body shot or a head strike – and it’s a knockout right there. Or we go deep into a messy three-round war, and he goes down at the end. Either one works for me. I’ll read the fight and figure out which one fits as it unfolds.”
