Reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka has experienced a life-changing transformation since capturing inaugural gold, and the Japanese striking sensation is ready to cement his legacy when he defends his belt for the first time against longtime rival Songchainoi Kiatsongrit at ONE SAMURAI 1 on Wednesday, April 29.

The showdown goes down on live.onefc.com from the historic Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

The Eiwa Sports Gym representative brings a 66-6 career record into this title defense, including a 40-fight winning streak that has established him as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best strikers.

He is a perfect 4-0 in ONE since making his debut in 2025. In his most recent outing, he outworked Numsurin Chor Ketwina to claim the inaugural title at ONE 173.

Since that night, life has shifted in ways Nadaka is only beginning to appreciate. The recognition that comes with being a ONE World Champion has found him everywhere he goes, from Thailand to Japan and everywhere in between.

The 25-year-old said:

“When I went to Thailand, or at ONE events, a lot of fans came up to talk to me. In Japan as well, my name has really spread as a ONE [World] Champion. Over the past six months, I’ve truly started to feel that I am a ONE [World] Champion.”

Beyond personal satisfaction, Nadaka takes immense pride in being the first Japanese fighter to claim ONE Muay Thai gold.

That belt carries the weight of an entire country’s martial arts legacy and a deeper responsibility toward the sport he has dedicated his life to.

He said:

“In modern Muay Thai, being a ONE [World] Champion means being the best in the world. Being able to wear that belt, as the first Japanese fighter, is something I’m truly proud of.

“Winning the ONE [World] Title has made me truly believe that I am the best in the world. As the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai [World] Champion, I believe I represent this division. My performance reflects the strength of Muay Thai and proves what it’s all about.”

Now comes the first defense, and it arrives in the form of a deeply familiar face. Nadaka and Songchainoi first crossed paths in 2023, with Nadaka taking that contest.

Since that defeat, the Thai contender has built a 10-1 promotional record. The rematch has been three years in the making, and Nadaka is not about to underestimate what awaits him.

He said:

“I fought Songchainoi about three years ago, and I won that fight. But three years is a long time, and I’m not taking anything lightly, not at all.

“After losing to me, he went on a nine-fight win streak in ONE. So to me, it feels like facing a completely new opponent. I want to approach it that way. This is a highly anticipated matchup for ONE fans, so I want both of us to deliver a fight that lives up to it.”

Nadaka Plans To Overwhelm Challenger With Superior Speed

Nadaka recognizes what makes his Thai challenger dangerous and has identified the game plan that will preserve his World Title reign.

Songchainoi’s striking power is the best in the atomweight division. But Nadaka believes his speed is the decisive edge. By moving faster than Songchainoi expects, the defending king plans to disrupt the timing and rhythm the challenger relies upon.

He said:

“I think his striking power is number one in this division. And in addition to that, he also has great speed. But when it comes to speed, I have pride in that I absolutely have to be the best, so I won’t lose in that area.

“As for weaknesses, I don’t think Songchainoi has much experience facing someone faster than him. So I want to move faster than him and throw him off.”

Tokyo’s Ariake Arena is the perfect stage for his most complete performance yet. For his first defense in front of Japanese fans, Nadaka wants more than victory — he is targeting a finish and a performance bonus.

He said:

“Like a true champion, I want to win by knockout in dominant fashion. I’ve had four fights in ONE, but I haven’t earned a bonus yet. So this time, I want to deliver a performance that earns one.”

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Everything in Songchainoi Kiatsongrit‘s journey has been building toward this moment.

On April 29 at ONE SAMURAI 1, inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, the Thai contender challenges Nadaka for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship. At the event, ambition, experience, and unfinished business will collide.

The Japanese athlete is one of the most complete strikers of his generation. His rise has been defined by speed, precision, and an ability to control fights before opponents can settle into a rhythm.

Songchainoi understands the challenge but believes he has the tools to solve it:

“Nadaka’s strengths include his speed, precision, and game analysis skills round by round. Those make him very special.

“I still haven’t seen him being attacked and badly injured. I haven’t seen him being struck fully on point. Therefore, if I could get close enough and strike him fully on point, we will see how well he could withstand my punches.”

Few opponents have tested Nadaka under sustained pressure. His movement and timing have prevented clean strikes from landing, leaving uncertainty around how he would respond if pushed into uncomfortable territory.

The Eiwa Sports Gym affiliate has remained flawless in ONE, scoring four wins since his debut at ONE 172 in March 2025 to extend his overall winning streak to 40.

For Songchainoi, that unanswered question presents a clear opening.

Since learning of the matchup, he and his team have sharpened their preparation, focusing on tactical discipline and calculated execution. Closing distance alone will not be enough. It must be done with precision against one of the most elusive fighters in the sport.

He said:

“Our camp has prepared spontaneous and tactical adjustments meticulously.

“I am also very driven to bring the championship back home. I need to train very well because many opponents who faced him before were beaten. I was beaten, too. And I don’t want to lose again. I would like to bring the belt back home.”

Songchainoi lost to Nadaka when they first met three years ago outside of ONE. Since then, the Thai has built a resume of 10 victories across 11 appearances in the organization, earning his place in this World Title fight.

A split-decision loss to Numsurin Chor Ketwina last August at ONE Friday Fights 122 postponed his shot at the inaugural World Title. The lessons from that defeat have sharpened both his discipline and his awareness heading into this opportunity.

He said:

“Losing in the match against Numsurin has made me want to become the champion even more. I have also learned many things from the fight with him.

“I have seen so many things and I have seen the [championship within reach]. There was an opportunity to win the championship in atomweight. It has made me crave for it. I want it. To be honest, I need it so badly. I want to have it. It is so beautiful. I want to place it on my shoulder.”

Songchainoi Gears Up To Prevail In Hostile Territory

When Songchainoi Kiatsongrit steps into Ariake Arena, he has the chance to settle two accounts at once.

A victory would avenge his loss to Nadaka while claiming the most prestigious prize of his career. But doing so means overcoming more than just his opponent. Fighting in Japan puts him in front of a partisan crowd where every strike from Nadaka will echo through the arena.

He said:

“Fighting in Japan, surrounded by the fans of Nadaka, it is surely a lot of pressure. As you know, once he kicks, the audience is going to roar very loudly. But when I do kick, it’s going to be quiet.

“That is the pressure, but I had this experience the first time we fought. I feel like that is what I have to adjust myself into.”

Songchainoi embraces the moment, driven by national pride and a journey that has been building toward exactly this.

He said:

“As a Thai citizen and a Thai boxer, I really want to bring [the belt] back home. I really do. I would be the first Thai fighter to beat him. No one has taken him down yet.

“He has been keeping his winning streak. If I could be the one who breaks his streak and brings the belt back, it would be really awesome. It would be amazing.”

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An explosive all-Japanese flyweight kickboxing showdown is set to electrify the Ariake Arena when undefeated phenom ”Mister Pepper” Hyu Iwata steps into the ONE Championship ring against decorated veteran Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito.

The high-stakes battle will take center stage at ONE SAMURAI 1, which broadcasts live from Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, April 29.

With both strikers looking to climb the divisional ladder and break into the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title conversation, the pressure surrounding this battle between home favorites remains intense.

For the Osaka native, this matchup represents more than just another step toward the ultimate prize. It offers an opportunity to silence any remaining doubters and cement his status as the most dangerous new arrival in the weight class.

In fact, fans have actively clamored for this exact pairing since Hyu first stepped onto the global stage in September 2024.

Bringing a flawless 13-0 record into the contest, the karate specialist has built a reputation as an exciting finisher. His resume already features a dominant victory over Kanta Motoyama – one of Naito’s former teammates – which naturally laid the groundwork for this budding rivalry.

Hyu understands exactly why Japanese fans demanded this battle, and he recognizes the caliber of the opponent standing across the ring.

He explained:

“When the possibility of fighting him came up, there was a lot of fan noise about wanting to see that fight. And even from when I first came to ONE, I started hearing voices saying they wanted to see me against Naito.

“Naito is the one who stands out the most among Japanese fighters. I’m fully aware of that.”

To secure his sixth consecutive victory in the world’s largest martial arts organization and keep his spotless record intact, Hyu must solve one of the most experienced puzzles in the flyweight ranks.

Boasting a 38-14 career record, Naito has traded leather with some of the best fighters the sport has to offer. The 30-year-old Bell Wood Fight Team product, who has a Shoot Boxing Title and RISE Tournament Championship on his resume, is a counter-striker who relies on timing, distance management, and a notoriously heavy left hand.

While many opponents struggle to navigate Naito’s defensive shell, Hyu views his countryman’s style not as a complex mystery, but as a deeply flawed system waiting to be dismantled.

“Mister Pepper,” who represents Team Mehdi Zatout and TEAM3K, explained:

“He’s a defense-first fighter, but when he does let [the left hook] go, he commits fully. I’m making sure I don’t get caught with a flash knockdown from that.

“He’s weak against physical exchanges, body-to-body contact. And the only real threat in his attack is that left hook. Funnily enough, his left hook being his strength actually becomes an opportunity for me to land my counter. So overall, he has more weaknesses than strengths.”

Hyu’s supreme confidence stems directly from the countless hours spent refining his craft in the gym.

He seamlessly blends his traditional full-contact karate foundation with modern kickboxing fundamentals. Whether he throws a thudding left body kick or delivers a flying knee, the 23-year-old trusts his vast offensive arsenal to overwhelm Naito’s patient, methodical guard.

That being said, he refuses to overcomplicate the game plan, believing his physical tools simply outmatch the veteran’s capabilities in every single phase of combat:

“My overall ability is superior across the board. I just need to make sure I don’t get dropped or lose a point from that one punch. That’s it.

“I’m training to build overall ability whether I have a fight coming up or not. I’m always pushing myself. That’s where my confidence comes from.”

Hyu To Leave No Room For Excuses Against Naito

Despite Hyu Iwata’s unblemished record and an 80 percent finishing rate in ONE Championship, the Japanese star steps into the Ariake Arena carrying a massive chip on his shoulder.

“Mister Pepper” feels his true quality as a fighter is still largely misunderstood by fans watching from the outside. A quick, chaotic finish might leave room for critics to call it a lucky shot, so the undefeated phenom intends to deliver a performance so thoroughly dominant that it eliminates any possibility of an excuse. He wants to break Naito down systematically before finding the inevitable knockout.

Hyu continued:

“I feel like I’m being underestimated, so I want to clearly show the gap in our levels. If it ends too quickly, Naito might say, ‘I just got caught,’ or find some excuse. So, I want to make sure there’s no room for any of that. Show the technique, show the gap, and then finish it in a way he can’t argue with.”

When the bell finally rings at the Ariake Arena and Hyu touches gloves with Naito, ready to come out of his corner firing, he expects nothing less from his opponent than an all-out war.

But there is no outcome where Hyu sees himself losing this bout, and he’s prepared to unleash his full arsenal until he achieves what he set out to do.

The Osaka native said:

“I’m thinking about two patterns for the finish. Either something lands clean in round one – a body shot or a head strike – and it’s a knockout right there. Or we go deep into a messy three-round war, and he goes down at the end. Either one works for me. I’ll read the fight and figure out which one fits as it unfolds.”

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