On Sunday, 16th November, ONE 173 will go down live at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, and a star-studded card is expected.
ONE has made a point of bringing some of its biggest names whenever it visits “The Land of the Rising Sun”.
This past March, the promotion hosted ONE 172: Rodtang vs. Takeru at Saitama Super Arena, drawing a jam-packed attendance of 15,000 fans and a gate of over US$2 million.
The card pitted many of the world’s best strikers against multiple Japanese standouts. And it left those in attendance with plenty of moments that will live long in the memory, including former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon’s 80-second destruction of hometown hero Takeru Segawa.
The Japanese crowd also blew the roof off the place when Yuya Wakamatsu finished multiple-time flyweight MMA World Champion Adriano Moraes inside the first round of their rematch to capture the vacant divisional crown, and when Masaaki Noiri scored a stunning third-round knockout against featherweight Muay Thai king Tawanchai PK Saenchai to become the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion.
ONE Championship’s last venture to Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came in January 2023 with ONE 165.
The headline attraction that evening saw ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 defend his crown against Takeru in what was the striking superstar’s promotional debut.
Superlek took home the win by unanimous decision after five rounds of tooth-and-nail fighting, leaving the local challenger disappointed but much-lauded by his Japanese compatriots.
With those two events in its wake, ONE Championship fans should expect another barnburner at ONE 173, and it’s highly likely that recently signed talents K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza, Kaito, and Nadaka Yoshinari will appear on the lineup.
Bouts for ONE 173 are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with tickets going on sale on Saturday, 5th July.
