WATCH: Japanese kickboxing icon Takeru’s blistering onslaught that almost put Superlek away in Tokyo

Despite falling short in his first ONE Championship match, Takeru Segawa, a renowned kickboxing icon from Japan, came close to defeating Superlek Kiatmoo9 in their epic battle at ONE 165.

After nine months since his signing with the promotion, ‘The Natural Born Crusher’ finally entered the ring at Ariake Arena for a highly anticipated ONE flyweight kickboxing title fight against the current champion, Superlek. Throughout five intense rounds, both fighters engaged in an exciting toe-to-toe battle, captivating the audience at the arena and those tuning in from around the globe.

Ultimately, despite Takeru’s vicious onslaught of strikes in the third round, ‘The Kicking Machine’ emerged victorious.

“HEATED. Who do you want to see Takeru take on next?”

Despite not seeing his hand raised, the former three-division K-1 champion has shown that he is capable of competing at the highest level in ONE Championship. The question now is, who will Takeru face upon his highly anticipated return later this year?

The Ultimate Showdown: Takeru vs Rodtang in the Circle

It has not been officially announced when Takeru will make his next appearance. However, considering ONE Championship’s plans to return to Japan, it is likely that we will see the kickboxing legend compete in his home country once more in the near future. Fans are eagerly anticipating a rematch between Takeru and ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

Takeru has long been associated with a potential confrontation against ‘The Iron Man’, sparking frequent discussions among fighting enthusiasts about who would emerge victorious.

In the past, the possibility of a bout between Takeru and Rodtang was just a dream for fans as they were signed to different promotions. However, with both fighters now part of ONE Championship, it is no longer a question of if but rather when ‘The Iron Man’ and ‘The Natural Born Crusher’ will face each other on the world’s largest martial arts platform.

If you were unable to catch the event or would like to experience one of the most memorable nights in ONE Championship history again, you can access the replay of ONE 165 on demand at watch.onefc.com.