Masaaki Noiri is heading into his debut match in the ONE Championship this weekend, but he’s already looking at the bigger picture.

This Friday, June 7, on U.S. primetime, the Japanese striking star is set to take on Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong in a featherweight kickboxing bout at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Masaaki Noiri declares his legitimacy as a challenger

In an interview with ONE, Noiri shared that he expects a fully motivated Sitthichai to show up and outlined that he wants nothing less so that he can showcase his skills right away on the global stage. 

“I really think Sitthichai will come with an ‘I cannot lose’ attitude and be more serious than ever before. He’ll come with the mindset of having fought at the top level until now. He’ll come at his absolute peak form ever. And by defeating that, I can prove my own strength,” he said.  

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“It’s my ONE debut, so I have nothing to lose. I’ve always had the challenger’s mindset, but this time, I’m the real legitimate challenger. The fans’ expectation and pressure will only fuel me.”

Sitthichai is coming off a two-fight slide in ONE Championship, and there is little doubt he’ll do everything in his power to avoid a third loss and defend his #3-ranked position in the featherweight kickboxing division. 

However, Noiri will offer the Thai veteran a significant challenge, given that he’ll enter the world’s largest martial arts organization with a record of 11 wins from his last 12 bouts.

The Japanese star realizes what can make the fans recognize his strength

The Team Vasileus standout believes that how he defeats “Killer Kid” will give matchmakers a good idea of where he stacks up in arguably the most stacked kickboxing bracket on the planet today, so he’s planning to leave no question that he’s a contender for the gold. 

“I think how I win this fight will be important. It will determine my next opponent. But I want to get to the World Title as soon as possible,” he said. 

“My thinking is that since Grigorian knocked out Sitthichai in the third round if I can get the KO quicker than that, many people will recognize my strength. That’s the clear way to make a statement.” 

With both fighters seeking a dominant victory, fans should make sure to be locked in when their battle goes down at ONE 167 this Friday.