ONE Championship’s Japan Debut: The New Era is Here!
After a record‑busting 2018, 2019 brings the big sisters of ONE Championship – the SEA kings and queens – to the Land of the Rising Sun. On Sunday, March 31, the world’s largest MMA brand will stage its first ever event in Japan: ONE: A NEW ERA, inside the iconic Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Six blockbuster fights are already on the card, and here’s why we’re buzzing about this historic night.
1⃣ Three World Title Match‑Ups
- In the headline bout, Filipino champ Eduard “Landslide” Folayang will defend his lightweight belt against hometown hero Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki. It’s a rematch of 2016, when Folayang rocked Aoki in round three.
- The co‑main events are no less epic. Xiong Jing Nan “The Panda”, the women’s strawweight champ, will go toe‑to‑toe with Angela “Unstoppable” Lee, the atomweight king. Lee could become ONE’s first double‑division women’s champ!
- And let’s not forget the triple‑named champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang. He’ll defend his middleweight title against local favorite Ken Hasegawa – a rematch of the 2018 bout where Aung La rolled Hasegawa.
2⃣ The Flyweight Grand Prix Starts Now
The CFA’s own Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson – legend of the flyweight division – has joined ONE and will take on Japan’s Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu in a quarter‑final clash. This is a clear‑cut matchup: a knockout monster vs. a grappling maestro.
3⃣ The Underground King Comes Home
Chiefly, Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez will return to Japanese soil! The former UFC/Bellator lightweight champ takes on Russian knockout artist Timofey Nastyukhin in the quarterfinals of the lightweight Grand Prix. Alvarez’s love for Japan dates back to 2009 – now he’s back to celebrate that passion.
4⃣ One Super Series Knockout Show
Expect fireworks when Muay Thai legend Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex squares off against Dutch K‑1 champ Andy “Souwer Power” Souwer. Fairtex, who crushed Australia’s Luis Regis with a triple‑uppercut KO in Kuala Lumpur, will try to outshine Souwer’s K‑1world‑max prowess.
All four reasons make ONE: A NEW ERA a match worthy of the title. Grab your popcorn, bring your weight‑lifting hacks, and watch history unfold – MMA fans in Japan, you’re about to witness a brand new era in the sport.
