Chatri Targets Records as ONE 173 Unveils Largest Card in Japan

On stage at the Hilton Tokyo Odaiba, a shining row of gold belts was placed on the table—five world championships that will be contested whe...

On stage at the Hilton Tokyo Odaiba, a shining row of gold belts was placed on the table—five world championships that will be contested when ONE Championship comes back to Ariake Arena on Sunday.

There might have been additional silverware on display if not for two last-minute injury withdrawals. Jonathan Haggerty suffered a shoulder tear during training on Koh Samui, ruining his bantamweight Muay Thai title match against Nabil Anane, while heavyweight champion Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane was taken to a hospital in Dubai following a car accident.

Of course, we will aim to reschedule both fights," said ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong during a press conference on Wednesday evening, as reported by the Bangkok Post. "However, I believe Haggerty will be out for some time—he has torn his rotator cuff—and Reug Reug is still experiencing dizziness. He was concussed and suffered other injuries in the car accident. Our intention is to arrange the fights again once they are fully recovered.

Although there were challenges, Chatri mentioned that the event - ONE 173 - is 'on the rise' with potential record-high figures for live attendance and pay-per-view purchases. ONE has partnered with a new live streaming company, Kiswe, to prevent any recurrence of the problems faced by customers who bought the ONE 172 PPV in March.

Yes, we're anticipating setting new records — ratings, income, any indicators that matter," he said to the Post. "This event is gaining significant traction, and we're poised for great success.

Later, during a backstage press conference with Japanese journalists, he reinforced ONE's goals within the market.

"We think there is a significant chance to transform the industry and bring kakutogi [combat sports] into widespread popularity here," he said.

As he spoke, members of Team Vasileus, who were awaiting their own media session, observed silently nearby — a meaningful moment before what could be the most significant night in the history of the Japanese gym. All three of its top athletes are competing on the main card: Masaaki Noiri, Takeru Segawa, and Yuki Yoza.

Noiri's headlines feature a featherweight kickboxing unification match against Superbon Singha Mawynn, while Takeru has a crucial fight against Denis Puric following two consecutive losses on home ground. 'I will do whatever it takes to secure my first victory in ONE in Japan,' Takeru said to the audience on stage.

Yoza encounters Superlek Kiatmuu9, who arrived with bleached-blond hair featuring a black lightning-bolt symbol — a reference to his nickname and his brand. The two exchanged sardonic smiles during their confrontation, a meeting between two individuals recognized for their calm intimidation rather than loud posturing.

Superlek has faced a challenging year, having lost the bantamweight Muay Thai title during weigh-ins in his previous fight in Japan, followed by a defeat against Anane in a non-title match. On Wednesday, he and Nabil shared friendly smiles and words on stage—showing a moment of tranquility before possible future conflict.

Prominent Thai-Algerian fighter Nabil will transition to featherweight kickboxing, challenging Japan's Hiromi Wajima, who confessed to feeling anxious on stage as he gets ready to be the next former K-1 champion to make his debut in ONE, continuing the legacy of the Team Vasileus group.

Another - Rukiya Anpo - exchanged words with Marat Grigorian during their intense face-off, adding excitement to their featherweight kickboxing match.

In another part of the event, flyweight MMA champion Yuma Wakamatsu is set to protect his title against strawweight champion Joshua Pacio, who has vowed to 'make history as the Philippines' first athlete to win in two divisions.'

She was noticeably absent — Stamp Fairtex, who had only arrived from Bangkok hours prior to the press conference, marking her highly anticipated return in an atomweight kickboxing match against Kana Morimoto — another former K-1 champion who also held titles within the Japanese promotion, as ONE keeps expanding its presence in Japan's combat sports scene.

Rodtang Jitmuangnon remained notably silent – not responding to any questions from the majority of Japanese journalists before departing without participating in the casual open training session. 'The Iron Man' has shared a series of mysterious posts on social media in recent weeks, suggesting discontent ahead of his upcoming flyweight Muay Thai title match against Nong-O Hama.

Nevertheless, he appeared sharp earlier in the day, briefly practicing on the mats — with renowned grappling instructor John Danaher, who is in Tokyo to coach Giancarlo Bodoni, observing. 'Very good, very good,' Danaher was heard saying as Rodtang impressed spectators with his skills during an unexpected 20-minute Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu session.

"Can I compete in MMA?" he asked, apparently jokingly, to the Bangkok Post after arriving at the lobby of the Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo Ariake hotel on Tuesday evening — but possibly suggesting future intentions.

Rodtang experienced the thrill of MMA during his famous mixed-rules fight against Demetrious Johnson, who will also be in Tokyo this week and is expected to meet his former rival - the fighter who introduced him to a broader American audience.

Nevertheless, with stars spread throughout the lobby, media groups gathering closely, and five world titles at stake, ONE 173 already seems to be the promotion's most significant event so far in Japan – a nation where Chatri claims the finest and most daring achievements are yet to come.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).