Itsuki Hirata Makes Weight, Officially Set To Face Ham Seo Hee At ONE Fight Night 8
The highly anticipated atomweight MMA clash between Ham Seo Hee and Itsuki Hirata is now official for ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video after both athletes passed weight and hydration.
Hirata missed weight for their originally scheduled bout at ONE 163 last November, and the contest was canceled after “Hamzzang” declined to accept a catchweight and called her foe’s professionalism into question.
But with “Android 18” successfully hitting the mark for both weight and hydration on Thursday, Ham is happy to leave their issues in the past and settle the score inside the Circle at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong also referenced the matchup at the ONE Fight Night 8 Official Press Conference earlier in the day.
He said the popular Japanese athlete was motivated to put her problems with the scales to bed and ultimately reach the top of the atomweight division:
“Itsuki has missed weight a couple of times now in ONE Championship. She has rededicated, refocused, and she really, really wants to eventually become Japan’s first women’s World Champion in ONE.”
Now training full-time in New York, USA, it’s clear Hirata has put in the work and stayed disciplined to ensure this massive battle comes to fruition – knowing the result will have huge implications for the division.
With Ham holding the #2 ranking, the winner will position themselves as a leading contender for the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title.
Meanwhile, every athlete competing at ONE Fight Night 8 made weight on Thursday, including main event stars Superlek Kiatmoo9 and Danial Williams and co-main event foes Allycia Hellen Rodrigues and Janet Todd.
Only American striker Eddie Abasolo failed hydration, but he ultimately negotiated a 158.5-pound catchweight Muay Thai bout with opponent Niclas Larsen.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for all of the news and updates ahead of event day.