ONE Championship has unveiled the main event for ONE Samurai 1, set to take place on Wednesday, April 29, from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Thai megastar Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon and modern-day Japanese icon Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa will collide in a five-round super-fight for the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title.
The bout carries enormous weight – Takeru announced at the ONE Samurai Press Conference in Tokyo earlier this month that this fight versus Rodtang will be his last, making it a retirement clash against the man who knocked him out just over a year ago.
Rodtang Looks to Exert His Dominance Again in Tokyo
Rodtang enters the rematch with the Japanese star on the back of one of the most memorable performances of his ONE Championship career. The 28-year-old Bangkok-based striker knocked out Takeru in just 80 seconds in the main event of ONE 172 in March 2025, earning a US$50,000 performance bonus for the finish.
The Jitmuangnon Gym representative holds a staggering 274-43 career record with 17 wins coming in ONE Championship. He made his promotional debut in 2018 and has since established himself as one of the promotion’s most exciting fighters.
Rodtang is also a former six-time ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, giving him a decorated title history heading into this interim flyweight kickboxing title bout.
Takeru Aims to Avenge Loss to Rodtang and Retire on Top
Takeru steps into what he has declared will be the final fight of his legendary career. The 34-year-old Team Vasileus product holds a 45-5 career record and is a former three-division K-1 Champion, cementing his status as one of kickboxing’s all-time greats.
After suffering the knockout loss to Rodtang in March 2025, the Tokyo native rebounded with a second-round TKO of Denis Puric later that year. He enters ONE Samurai 1 with revenge on his mind and the chance to close his career with the 26-pound golden belt.
The “Natural Born Krusher” made his promotional debut in January 2024 against “The Kicking Machine” Superlek, producing a fight widely regarded as one of the best of that year. His return to Japan in front of his home crowd for this retirement bout adds another layer of significance to an already monumental main event.
A Career-Defining Rematch Between Rodtang and Takeru
Image Courtesy of ONE Championship.
“The Iron Man” and Takeru first met in the main event of ONE 172 in March 2025, with the Thai striker finishing the contest in just 80 seconds. The rematch gives Takeru the chance to avenge that loss and sign off on his career with a ONE World Title, while the Bangkok resident looks to prove the first result was no fluke.
With the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title on the line, the stakes could not be higher for both men. Rodtang, 28, seeks to add interim kickboxing gold to his six Muay Thai World Title reigns and earn a rematch with Superlek, the only man to defeat him in Muay Thai in ONE Championship. However, the Japanese star pursues one final piece of title glory before hanging up his gloves for good.
Ariake Arena in Tokyo, one of Japan’s most iconic sporting venues, provides the backdrop for what promises to be a historic night of combat sports. ONE Samurai 1 airs live on Wednesday, April 29.