The World Champions Of ONE: A NEW ERA's Stacked Prelims

ONE Championship’s debut card in Tokyo, Japan is so stacked, its prelims will feature more World Champion athletes than most complete events.

There are 22 martial artists on the bill at ONE: A NEW ERA who have claimed World Title gold in their careers, and 10 of those will feature on the preliminary card this Sunday, 31 March.

These competitors have reached the highest level in Muay Thai, karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, pankration, and mixed martial arts, and they will aim to step forward in their quests to add a ONE World Title to their records in Tokyo, Japan.

Following on from our rundown of the World Champions on the main card, check out the top-class competitors who will get the action started in the Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Senzo Ikeda

Senzo Ikeda will make his bow in The Home Of Martial Arts in a ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix quarter-final match against Danny “The King” Kingad after he answered the call to compete on just two weeks’ notice.

If anything, the Japanese star has upgraded this contest thanks to his pedigree as Pancrase Flyweight World Champion.

Kairat Akhmetov

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Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov once sat on top of his division, and now he has a route back to the summit.

He will take on Reece “Lightning” McLaren in a ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix quarter-final bout this weekend, knowing a World Title shot on the table for the tournament’s eventual winner.

Rodtang Jitmuangnon

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Rodtang “The Iron Man’ Jitmuangnon was riding high in his native Thailand as a two-time Omnoi Stadium Muay Thai World Champion before he signed with the world’s largest martial arts organization.

He has been a revelation on the global stage since his arrival, and he hopes to put on another thrilling performance against Hakim Hamech in Tokyo.

Hakim Hamech

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Hakim Hamech is a two-time Muay Thai World Champion, who began life in The Home Of Martial Arts with a highlight-reel knockout last September.

The Frenchman will face his toughest test yet when he meets Rodtang in a flyweight ONE Super Series match at ONE: A NEW ERA.

Hiroki Akimoto

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Japan’s own Hiroki Akimoto is a WFKO Karate World Champion that has transferred his skills well to kickboxing, as he has proved with his perfect 20-0 record.

His flawless slate includes a spectacular performance against Josh Tonna in his ONE debut, and he expects to build on that with a win over Joseph Lasiri in front of his compatriots.

Joseph Lasiri

Joseph “The Hurricane” Lasiri earned the biggest accolade of his career in 2017 when he became the WBC Muay Thai Super Bantamweight World Champion.

He returns for his fifth start in The Home Of Martial Arts against Akimoto in Tokyo.

Mei Yamaguchi

Mei “V.V.” Yamaguchi earned her spot in ONE after she won the DEEP Jewels Featherweight Grand Prix and with it, the promotion’s World Title.

The ONE Atomweight World Title has been just out of reach for the Japanese hero so far in her career, but she can get back into contention to challenge for the belt with a win over Kseniya Lachkova.

Kseniya Lachkova

Russian athlete Kseniya “The Tigress” Lachkova became a Pankration World Champion in 2013, before she took her hybrid martial arts skills into the cage.

She is set to compete in ONE for the first time on 31 March when she takes on durable veteran Mei Yamaguchi.

Garry Tonon

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Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon has a slew of impressive accomplishments as a grappler. He has won multiple Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Titles, including three EBI Championships. 

He has transferred his skills perfectly to mixed martial arts, and he will attempt to extend his undefeated record to 4-0 when he meets Indonesia’s Anthony Engelen in The Land Of The Rising Sun.

Panicos Yusuf

Cyprus’ Panicos Yusuf is a WRSA and Golden Belt Muay Thai World Champion who has showcased his slick striking techniques in two ONE Super Series battles to date.

If he can defeat “Jordan Boy” Mohammed Bin Mahmoud at ONE: A NEW ERA, he will take another step toward competing for gold in The Home Of Martial Arts.