After dominating Valmir Da Silva for his fifth straight win at ONE Fight Night 21 in April, the ONE welterweight MMA contender Hiroyuki Tetsuka is in for a treat. ONE Championship announced recently that he’ll be facing Tongan fighter Isi Fitikefu at the upcoming ONE 168: Denver event on September 6th at Ball Arena, Colorado.

The “Japanese Beast” recently shared an update on his training and acclimation to Colorado through his social media, offering insights into his preparation for the fight.

Hiroyuki Tetsuka sharpens claws in Colorado for ONE 168: Denver

Hiroyuki Tetsuka (14-4) has won his last five fights and hasn’t lost a bout in ONE Championship since 2021. He’s looking to add a third win this year in his upcoming fight against Isi Fitikefu, and he’s already working hard to achieve this goal. He revealed in a recent Instagram post that he has already completed two weeks of training in Colorado.

“Thank you so much who I meet in Colorado! Coming back soon for sure. Love this place,” Tetsuka said in the post. “Finished up about 2 weeks of camping in Colorado and headed to the next campsite. Good training with top fighters and coaches in the world I’ve given up on getting in shape.”

Additionally, Tetsuka expressed his love for Colorado, saying, “I love Colorado, where I am surrounded by nature, and I am blessed with the weather that is 300 sunny days a year.” He also gave a shoutout in his post to the agencies and people who played a crucial role in his preparation. 

ONE Championship’s welterweight rankings are not displayed on its website, but considering the work put in by Tetsuka, the winner of this fight is almost guaranteed a future title shot against the returning ONE Welterweight MMA World Champion, who’s coming back after a two-year break and whom Hiroyuki Tetsuka has called out in the past as well.

Is Hiroyuki Tetsuka seeking a title shot?

Rising ONE welterweight contender, Tetsuka, has been on a dominant run since joining the organization. According to Tetsuka, he’s proven himself and deserves a shot at the division’s king. After submitting Valmir Da Silva in his last fight, Hiroyuki Tetsuka called out Christian Lee.

In the post-fight interview, he told the reporter, “Not too bad. [I’m on five wins in a row]. Definitely, I’m the number one [contender].” However, he also recognized that the fight may not be immediately available.

The reigning welterweight MMA king, Christian Lee, is currently on hiatus due to the loss of his sister, Victoria Lee, so Tetsuka is open to an interim title fight with former champion Zebaztian Kadestam. He stated, “Yes, I want the interim title shot with Kadestam. He’s on a three-win streak. I have confidence that I can beat him up, but I respect him.”

Looking ahead to Hiroyuki Tetsuka’s clash with Isi Fitikefu at ONE 168: Denver, can the “Japanese Beast” continue his dominance? Who do you think will emerge victorious? Share your thoughts in the comments below!