It was a night of high emotion and historic moments at Ariake Arena in Tokyo as ONE Championship launched its inaugural ONE Samurai 1 event on April 29, 2026. The mid-week card, streamed live via pay-per-view, was stacked with title fights and featured a main event that doubled as a farewell to one of Japan’s most beloved combat sports icons: Takeru Segawa. With a career spanning more than a decade and a legacy that shaped the Japanese striking scene, Takeru’s final walk to the ring was always going to be special. But few could have predicted just how dramatic his swan song would be.
The main event saw Takeru, a 34-year-old former three-division K-1 Champion, enter the ring for the last time against Thailand’s Rodtang Jitmuangnon. The two collided for the ONE interim flyweight kickboxing championship, a belt that carried extra weight given the circumstances. For Takeru, this was more than just a fight—it was the closing chapter of a career that included a 45-5 professional record, a jaw-dropping 35-fight winning streak, and a role as an ambassador who brought thousands of new fans to Japanese combat sports.
From the opening bell, the energy in Ariake Arena was electric. Takeru’s presence loomed large, every exchange met with roars from the crowd. The stakes were clear: win or lose, this was Takeru’s last dance. Rodtang, no stranger to big moments himself, entered the bout after a turbulent stretch that included a public contract dispute with ONE Championship—complete with allegations of forged signatures. But on this night, all eyes were on the action inside the ropes.
The fight itself was a war of attrition, with both men trading heavy shots and showcasing their world-class skills. Rodtang’s aggression and relentless pressure were on display, but Takeru’s famed resilience and technical mastery kept him in the thick of it. As the rounds wore on, the tension only grew. Then, in the fifth round, with just over two minutes left on the clock, Takeru landed a decisive sequence, forcing the referee to step in and award him a TKO victory at 2:22 of Round 5. The crowd erupted—Takeru had claimed the interim gold in his final fight, capping his legendary career with a storybook ending.
But the night was about more than just one man’s farewell. The card was loaded with championship action and rising stars eager to make their mark. In the co-main event, Avazbek Kholmirzaev shocked fans by dethroning defending flyweight MMA champion Yuya Wakamatsu. Kholmirzaev, riding a six-fight winning streak and undefeated since 2024, finished Wakamatsu with a knockout in the first round at 4:53. The result marked a changing of the guard in the flyweight division, with Kholmirzaev’s power and finishing instincts proving too much for the reigning king.
Wakamatsu, who had gained the strap last year with a sensational knockout of Adriano Moraes and defended it once in 2025, was gracious in defeat. Before the event, he spoke about the significance of sharing the stage with Takeru, saying, “What Takeru has accomplished is something truly extraordinary. It’s something no one else can replicate. His fights and his presence are uniquely his. He’s announced his retirement, but I’m truly grateful to be competing on the same event as him.” Wakamatsu’s words echoed throughout the arena, underscoring the sense of transition and legacy that defined the night.
Elsewhere on the card, Nadaka Yoshinari defended his atomweight Muay Thai championship with a unanimous decision victory over Songchainoi Kiatsongrit. Nadaka, himself a rising star, acknowledged the void Takeru’s retirement would leave in Japanese striking. “Takeru’s retirement, honestly, in Japan’s striking scene right now, how should I say … it’s a really big deal, and it will have a huge impact. To improve the perception of martial arts after Takeru’s retirement, it’s not just about results, but also charisma and star power. I want to be in that position,” he said after his win.
The bantamweight kickboxing championship was also on the line, with Jonathan Haggerty successfully defending his title against Yuki Yoza by unanimous decision. Haggerty’s precision and ringcraft kept Yoza at bay, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s elite. In kickboxing action, Marat Grigorian delivered a highlight-reel knockout over Kaito in just 1:51 of the opening round, while Hiroki Akimoto edged out Taimu Hisai via split decision.
The MMA portion of the event featured several notable finishes and rising prospects. Chihiro Sawada submitted Ayaka Miura with an armbar in the first round at 4:33, halting Miura’s five-fight winning streak and staking her claim as a contender in the atomweight division. Itsuki Hirata showcased her grappling prowess with a rear-naked choke submission over Ritu Phogat in the third round. Tatsumitsu Wada earned a narrow split decision victory over Seiichiro Ito, and Keito Yamakita locked up an armbar to defeat Ryohei Kurosawa in the second round.
The undercard was no less exciting, with Hiromi Wajima besting Ricardo Bravo by unanimous decision in MMA, Shimon Yoshinari outpointing Johan Ghazali in Muay Thai, and Kanata Nagai taking a unanimous decision over Atsubo Kambe in MMA. Each bout contributed to the sense that a new generation of Japanese fighters is ready to step up and carry the torch that Takeru has passed on.
Throughout the night, tributes to Takeru poured in from his peers. Flyweight kickboxer Hyu Iwata captured the mood, stating, “My feeling toward Takeru is that this big ONE event is happening in Japan now only because he has consistently kept the martial arts scene exciting all these years. Since he said this will be his retirement match, I just hope he gives it everything he’s got against Rodtang. I really want him to go all out for his last fight. That’s how I feel.”
With the curtain now closed on Takeru’s storied career, the impact of his legacy is clear. ONE Samurai 1 was not just a showcase of elite talent and thrilling fights—it was a celebration of the past, present, and future of Japanese martial arts. As the lights dimmed in Ariake Arena, fans and fighters alike were left with a sense of gratitude for what Takeru built and anticipation for what’s to come.