ONE Championship confirms Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament bracket for ONE SAMURAI 2
Masaaki Noiri and Kaito face Liu Mengyang and Mohammad Siasarani in opening round as winner targets Superbon
ONE Championship has finalised the opening round matchups for the eight-man Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament at ONE SAMURAI 2, scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 8, at the Ebara Wave Arena Ota in Tokyo. The event marks the second iteration of the ONE SAMURAI series, following the inaugural event in April, and will feature two high-stakes rematches to determine the path to the title.
The tournament winner will earn a guaranteed shot at the reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion, Superbon. The opening round bouts see former Interim Champion Masaaki Noiri face Liu “Spirit Dragon” Mengyang, while Japanese striker Kaito takes on Iranian powerhouse Mohammad Siasarani.
Noiri’s return to the tournament follows a period of significant volatility within the promotion. After enduring early losses, including a decision defeat to Liu at ONE Friday Fights 92 in 2024, the 33-year-old staged a resurgence. He secured the interim kickboxing crown with a knockout victory over Tawanchai PK Saenchai at ONE 172, before losing a title unification bout to Superbon at ONE 173. Noiri now seeks to avenge his earlier defeat to Liu and reclaim his status in the division.
Liu Mengyang enters the bracket as the defending winner of their previous encounter, where he secured a unanimous decision victory. The 23-year-old Chinese standout has since established himself as a top contender, notably stopping Tawanchai with a first-round leg kick TKO at ONE Friday Fights 137. With Superbon currently recovering from an injury, Liu aims to navigate the elite field to cement his position as the undisputed number one contender.
In the other opening round clash, Kaito looks to rebound from a first-round knockout loss to Marat Grigorian at ONE SAMURAI 1 in April. The multiple-time K-1 Champion previously suffered a loss to Siasarani at ONE Friday Fights 109, where he was overwhelmed by relentless pressure. Siasarani, who has recorded eight victories in the ONE Friday Fights series, views the tournament as a launchpad for a world title opportunity after his main roster debut win against Pedro Dantas.
The event will be broadcast live and exclusively on live.onefc.com. The tournament is strictly for the Featherweight division, weighing in at 26 pounds, and serves as a critical juncture for the combatants’ careers in the organisation’s striking hierarchy.
