- George Chung
- Jan 26, 2024
- 2 min read
ONE Championship has landed in Tokyo, Japan, for ONE 165 fight week. While the athletes prepare for battle, the festivities got underway on Thursday, January 25, with a press conference.x
ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong was ecstatic about the event and made it known that ONE coming back to Japan is more than a one-off event. It has a deeper meaning to elevate Japanese talent and highlight Bushido culture.
“I have a lot of respect for obviously Rizin, K-1, and Rise, but that’s the best in Japan. In ONE Championship, we represent the very best of the best in the world across every single discipline. So that’s number one,” Sityodtong said.
“Number two, I think it’s a very, very powerful storyline, especially for Japanese fans, you know, when you have Takeru, who’s vying to go from Japan’s best to becoming the world’s best.”
“I believe ONE Championship is the right organization, in partnership with Rakuten and all of our partners, to really make a big, big push into Japan using these Japanese superstars and working together with the Japanese superstars in rallying Japanese honor and glory for martial arts.”
When it came to the action, the stars of ONE 165 offered up their thoughts on their upcoming matches. Sityodtong also delivered his thoughts on the marquee bouts. And none was more highlighted than the main event title tilt between ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 and Takeru Segawa.
But Sityodtong did not just hype up the title match. He also laid out what 2024 could hold with the return of Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
“Rodtang wants to fight Takeru. And a rematch between Superlek and Rodtang in Muay Thai is definitely happening as well. So, no matter the result, I think there’s a really interesting potential trilogy for Takeru and Superlek, Takeru and Rodtang, but also Rodtang and Superlek,” Sityodtong stated.
ONE 165 is a major event that could be one of the best of the year. Sityodtong was clear that the event marks the beginning of what comes next and a dedication to elevating martial arts on a global scale.
“And just to wrap up 2024 will be the biggest year in the history of ONE Championship, with a minimum of 61 events, potentially 70 events, live every week to 190 countries around the world with the biggest media broadcast partners in every region of the world,” Sityodtong said.
“We’re truly blessed, and this is going to be an incredible year. And I tell you something, this is the very beginning of the ONE Championship story still. Even though we’re throwing 70 events, 61 to 70 events, this year, you watch what’s going to happen next year and the following year because my team and I are committed to creating the greatest martial arts organization in the history of the world. Thank you.”
ONE 165 airs live from Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, January 28. The event is available via global pay-per-view on watch.onefc.com for $39.99.
