Rodtang Vs. Takeru, Moraes Vs. Wakamatsu II Set For ONE 172 In Japan On March 23
On March 23, 2025, ONE Championship will touch down at Saitama Super Arena in Japan with a blockbuster fight card featuring the planet’s biggest and best martial arts superstars.
The main event of ONE 172 will see two of striking’s top generational talents throw down, as former long-reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon will collide with former three-division K-1 Champion Takeru “The Natural Born Crusher” Segawa in a five-round flyweight kickboxing super-fight.
The lineup will also pit former flyweight MMA king Adriano “Mikhino” Moraes against surging Japanese star Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu in a rematch for the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Title.
Thai fan favorite Rodtang and Japanese icon Takeru were initially slated to face off in early 2024, but when Rodtang suffered an injury during training camp, the hotly anticipated battle fell through.
With both men now healthy and hungry to settle the score, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown.
In one corner, Rodtang might be the world’s most beloved striker. Renowned for his inimitable charisma, super-human durability, and fearless approach to combat, the 27-year-old has won all but one of his 17 striking bouts in ONE.
In his most recent kickboxing appearance, “The Iron Man” proved he’s much more than a Muay Thai fighter, dismantling veteran Denis “The Bosnian Menace” Puric in one of the year’s most electrifying and unforgettable battles.
Rodtang has made it no small secret that he wants to share the ring with Takeru, and he’ll get his wish on March 23.
For his part, Takeru has done plenty over the course of his professional career to cement himself as one of kickboxing’s all-time greats.
In addition to his trio of belts in K-1, “The Natural Born Crusher” is a former ISKA Kickboxing World Champion who once enjoyed an absurd seven-year unbeaten streak that paved the way for his climb to ONE Championship.
Takeru was originally slated to square off with Rodtang in his promotional debut, but he ended up challenging current two-sport, two-weight ONE World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 165. While he would drop a decision to “The Kicking Machine” that night, the Japanese striker showcased elite talent and incredible heart.
Since then, the 33-year-old has bounced back to the win column with a thrilling knockout victory over Myanmar hero Thant Zin in September at ONE Friday Fights 81.
Simply put, the clash between Rodtang and Takeru at ONE 172 represents perhaps the biggest kickboxing fight in recent memory – a fitting spectacle to headline what already has the makings of a massive event.
Also on the card, Moraes and Wakamatsu will battle for 26 pounds of flyweight MMA gold.
Following the retirement of former titleholder Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson earlier this year, that throne now sits vacant, and both top contenders are motivated to take their place atop the division.
Moraes is no stranger to high-stakes World Title fights, winning the flyweight MMA belt eight times over the course of his incredible 10-year career in ONE Championship.
One of his successful World Title defenses came in 2022 at ONE X against Wakamatsu. That night, the Brazilian leaned heavily on his veteran savvy and elite ground game en route to a third-round submission victory.
But since then, “Little Piranha” has gained valuable experience against top-flight competition and will come into this matchup riding a three-fight winning streak that’s earned him the #2 spot in the flyweight MMA rankings.
Given their history and his foe’s long and storied career, Wakamatsu is bracing for an all-out war against #1-ranked Moraes at ONE 172.
Check onefc.com for all the news and announcements about ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang on March 23.
