Stacked ONE SAMURAI 4 Lineup Bolstered By Trio Of Riveting All-Japan Matchups
One of the most highly anticipated cards of the year just grew even more loaded, as three thrilling all-Japan battles have been officially added to ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17, at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
Leading the charge is a lightweight MMA showdown between Shozo “Great Teacher” Isojima and Kota Abe. A dynamic flyweight MMA clash between Yu Takeuchi and Ryoto Nishiyama follows, while promotional debutants Yoshinari Fukushima and Masaki Takeura look to make an immediate splash in lightweight submission grappling.
The trio of additions joins an already spectacular card headlined by a pair of World Title fights and the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament semifinals.
Topping the slate of new matchups is Isojima, a judo-based powerhouse who has steadily evolved into a complete mixed martial artist. The Mie Prefecture native carries a 7-2 career record with two stoppage victories on the global stage. He introduced himself emphatically in his promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 36, decimating Nicolas “El Paisa” Vigna with crushing wrestling and vicious ground-and-pound for a US$50,000 performance bonus-winning TKO.
However, back-to-back setbacks against two of the organization’s absolute elite — reigning ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo and Adrian “The Phenom” Lee — provided invaluable experience and revealed vital areas for growth. Isojima absorbed those hard lessons with characteristic resolve, responding with the biggest performance of his career at The Inner Circle 21 this past July.
There, he survived an early knockdown before unleashing a devastating come-from-behind TKO of former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang. Building on that massive statement win, “Great Teacher” now returns determined to establish himself as a consistent force, earn rematches against those who previously bested him, and make a serious case for 26 pounds of gold.
Testing that unwavering resolve is his compatriot Abe, a well-rounded Japanese MMA talent who brought proven domestic grit to his ONE debut at The Inner Circle 10 in April. The Tribe Tokyo MMA product delivered a commanding third-round knockout of Hero Marco Manguray to improve his overall record to 6-1.
Now facing the sternest assignment of his competitive tenure, the 28-year-old enters with absolutely everything to gain, aiming to neutralize Isojima’s explosive physical assault and steal his hard-earned momentum.
Elsewhere, unblemished 4-0 standout Takeuchi looks to leave an instant mark on the flyweight MMA division. Fighting out of Toikatsu Dojo, the promotional newcomer relies on suffocating top control and non-stop wrestling pressure to completely overwhelm the opposition.
Looking to spoil his introduction is Paraestra Hachioji representative Nishiyama, who makes a quick turnaround after scoring a devastating first-round knockout of Geun Ho Son at ONE Friday Fights 168. Armed with sharp counter-striking and dangerous submission skills, Nishiyama offers a stern, immediate litmus test for his undefeated countryman.
Rounding out the trio, accomplished competitors Fukushima and Takeura collide in a fast-paced, 10-minute all-grappling war on the world’s largest martial arts stage. A compelling performance from either man would serve as a powerful statement of intent in a lightweight division firmly governed by ONE Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo.
Together, these three all-Japan collisions bring undeniable local flavor and immense firepower to a blockbuster lineup that promises to electrify the Japanese capital on October 17.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE SAMURAI 4.
