5 Burning Questions Ahead Of ONE 172: Takeru Vs. Rodtang On March 23
ONE Championship’s blockbuster return to Japan is jam-packed with high-stakes matchups and compelling storylines.
ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang will go down at Saitama Super Arena this Sunday, March 23, and the global pay-per-view event has all the makings of an unforgettable showcase.
With five ONE World Title clashes and a massive super-fight as the headline attraction, every bout carries real significance, setting the stage for nonstop drama and intrigue.
Before the action gets underway this weekend, these are five key questions that will be answered at ONE 172.
#1 Can Rodtang Beat An Iconic Kickboxer At His Own Sport?
The main event will see former long-reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon take on Japanese megastar Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa in a five-round flyweight kickboxing super-fight that the world has been waiting for.
Renowned for his granite chin, explosive striking style, and unique brand of showmanship, Rodtang has spent the past few years cementing himself as a global icon and one of Muay Thai’s pound-for-pound best.
But despite his mountain of elite-level experience and accolades in “the art of eight limbs,” the Thai has competed in kickboxing just a handful of times in his illustrious career.
Takeru, meanwhile, is a former three-division K-1 Champion and an undeniable kickboxing great.
Can Rodtang extend the dominance he’s enjoyed in Muay Thai to the sport of kickboxing – and against one of the pound-for-pound best in enemy territory, no less?
#2 Have Anane And Wakamatsu Improved Enough To Avenge Past Losses?
Nabil Anane and Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu will each have their chance to avenge a previous defeat and win 26 pounds of gold in the process.
As the youngest-ever WBC Muay Thai World Champion, the towering Anane arrived at ONE with loads of hype behind him. However, he would suffer a loss in his promotional debut against current two-sport, two-weight ONE World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Since then, the Thai-Algerian phenom has gone on a tear, winning six straight and claiming the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.
Anane will now look to even the score with Superlek when they throw down for the undisputed bantamweight Muay Thai crown.
For his part, Japan’s Wakamatsu was riding a five-fight winning streak when he came up short in his December 2022 bid for Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes’ ONE Flyweight MMA World Title.
“Little Piranha” has since won three of four, showing marked improvements in his fight IQ, ground game, and overall physical conditioning to secure the #2 spot in the rankings and this shot at the now-vacant World Title against #1-ranked Moraes.
Have Anane and Wakamatsu done enough to close the gap against their respective rivals?
#3 Can Sam-A Still Compete With Young Superstars?
In strawweight kickboxing action, legendary Thai striker Sam-A Gaiyanghadao will have one more shot at gold when he squares off with Italian-Canadian sensation Jonathan Di Bella for the interim divisional crown.
At 41 years old and a former multi-division, multi-sport ONE titleholder, Sam-A has done more than enough to solidify his legacy as one of Thailand’s greatest strikers. Some fans, though, are questioning if the aging veteran still has what it takes to compete against the new guard of top talent.
Indeed, the 28-year-old Di Bella has lit the kickboxing world on fire with his crispy boxing and speedy kicks – and looks to have a lengthy and prosperous career ahead of him.
Does Sam-A have enough left in the gas tank to complete one more World Title run, or has Father Time finally caught up with the decorated fan favorite?
#4 Will Phetjeeja Continue To Look Invincible?
Reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Queen” Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom has quietly established herself as a pound-for-pound great after amassing an incredible 208-6 career record that includes a 6-0 slate in ONE.
She’ll aim to continue her reign of terror when she puts her gold on the line against Japanese slugger Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto.
A clean technician with savage finishing instincts and endless stamina, Phetjeeja has looked nothing short of dominant against the best of the best in ONE. Kana, though, possesses the dangerous one-punch power needed to wrest the belt from the Thai.
Can “The Queen” keep her untouchable mystique alive, or will the Japanese star make her look human?
#5 Which Highly Touted Japanese Debutant Will Impress The Most?
The card will also include the promotional debuts of a trio of Japan’s top talents.
First, Ryusei Kumagai will take on battle-hardened Thai Suriyanlek Por Yenying in a 132-pound kickboxing tilt.
The 23-year-old phenom is a skilled knockout artist who has largely dominated the Japanese kickboxing scene, tasting defeat just a single time while impressing fans with his fast-paced and entertaining approach to combat.
In atomweight Muay Thai action, Nadaka Yoshinari will collide with Rak Erawan.
Nadaka has done plenty to cement himself as Japan’s best Muay Thai fighter and one of the sport’s top non-Thai athletes. While his trophy case is already filled with prestigious belts, titles, and accolades, he knows that achieving glory on ONE’s global stage will make him a bona fide superstar.
Finally, 27-year-old Kaito Ono hopes to make immediate waves in ONE when he battles legendary Armenian brawler Marat Grigorian in a high-stakes featherweight kickboxing clash.
Kaito has won practically every Japanese kickboxing title available to him, and he could quickly catapult himself into World Title contention with a strong showing against multiple-time ONE World Title challenger Grigorian.
