ONE 172 Results

An action-packed evening at the sold-out Saitama Super Arena concluded with significant results.

The highly anticipated main event between Rodtang and Takeru concluded quickly and dramatically. After an initial cautious exchange, Rodtang cornered Takeru but took a clean right hand that didn`t faze him. Reacting instantly, Rodtang landed a sharp left hook that connected solidly with Takeru.

The Japanese competitor fell backwards and, despite his efforts, could not recover before the referee`s count reached ten. This secured Rodtang`s first recorded first-round knockout victory of his career.

Noiri Upsets Tawanchai

Considered a substantial underdog, Masaaki Noiri stunned the world with a third-round knockout win over Thai superstar Tawanchai. The first round saw back-and-forth action, with Tawanchai appearing to have a slight edge over a somewhat static Noiri. Noiri, a former K-1 fighter, seemed to employ a strategy similar to his previous bout, focusing on leg attacks.

In the second round, Tawanchai found his rhythm, landing powerful kicks and accurate punches that kept Noiri on the defensive. As the round neared its end, Noiri landed a heavy right hook with Tawanchai against the ropes, hinting at what was to follow.

Sensing an opportunity, Noiri intensified his offense at the start of the third round and broke through. After targeting the body effectively, he went upstairs with a hook that landed cleanly, sending Tawanchai to the canvas. In a scene eerily reminiscent of his 2020 loss, Tawanchai was unable to defend against a relentless barrage of follow-up punches, prompting the referee to stop the fight.

With the interim belt now in his possession, Noiri has earned his shot at reigning champion Superbon.

Jonathan Di Bella Retains Belt

Jonathan Di Bella displayed his superior boxing skills throughout five rounds against Sam-A, securing a unanimous decision victory. His performance silenced doubts about his ability to handle Muay Thai specialists.

In a contest between two southpaws, Di Bella consistently neutralized Sam-A`s signature roundhouse kicks, countering effectively and dictating the pace. Although Sam-A landed sharp low kicks and showed good defense, Di Bella demonstrated why he remains the top contender in ONE`s strawweight division, earning scores of 50-45 from all judges.

Hyu: The Rising Star

With a flying knee knockout just over two minutes into the first round against Zakaria El Jamari, the young former karate world champion has now achieved three consecutive wins in ONE Championship, two of them by stoppage.

Hyu seamlessly incorporates karate`s dynamic movement and kicking techniques into kickboxing, overwhelming opponents with relentless forward pressure that leaves little room for counter-attacks. Today`s quick finish suggests he will be back in action soon. In the post-Takeru landscape, Hyu could potentially become the new prominent Japanese kickboxer in the flyweight division.

ONE 172 Full Results