One more statement win could put a rising Japanese grappler directly in line for gold. Standing in his way is a hungry debutant with nothing to lose.
Keito Yamakita headlines a pivotal strawweight MMA clash against promotional newcomer Koyuru Tanoue as part of the newly completed card for ONE SAMURAI 2 on August 8. The event broadcasts live from Tokyo’s Ebara Wave Arena Ota, following seven newly added bouts that round out the lineup.
Yamakita has built a 5-1 ONE record on a suffocating and relentless grappling style. He has statement wins over former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champions Alex Silva and Yosuke Saruta. He rides a four-fight winning streak into the bout, having most recently submitted highly touted compatriot Ryohei Kurosawa at ONE SAMURAI 1.
Another dominant, highlight-reel showing could put the 29-year-old directly next in line to challenge undisputed ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio for the divisional gold. Tanoue, a hungry Osaka native, arrives eager to fast-track his own title dreams by delivering a statement debut against one of the division’s hottest names.
Keito Yamakita headlines a stacked Tokyo return
Keito Yamakita’s rise sits alongside a loaded ONE SAMURAI 2 lineup topped by the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament. There, the winner earns a shot at reigning champion Superbon. Yamakita’s bout arrives as one of three new MMA additions to a card built around Japan’s finest talent and a dangerous slate of international opposition.
Elsewhere on the card, Ayumu Yamamoto meets Ryo Hirayama in a bantamweight MMA battle. Both fighters looking to bounce back after dropping their ONE debuts. Subaru Mori also makes his global debut against Yusuke Sato in a lightweight MMA clash. That bout rounds out the mixed martial arts slate on a night otherwise dominated by kickboxing.
The eight-man featherweight kickboxing bracket anchoring the card features former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri headlining against Liu Mengyang, while Kaito Ono meets Mohammad Siasarani in the co-main event. Both rematches set the stage for Yamakita’s own bid to move a step closer to gold.
