Yoshihiro Akiyama and Nieky Holzken Get Special Rules Bout as ONE 165 Gets Bolstered With Latest Additions

Published 01/16/2024, 1:20 AM EST

ONE 165: Superlek vs. Takeru was already shaping up to be huge, but it has just got even bigger with the addition of three new high-stakes bouts. ONE Championship’s return to Japan will be held inside the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Sunday, January 28.

It’s is scheduled to be headlined by Superlek Kiatmoo9’s ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title defense against kickboxing superstar Takeru Segawa. In the co-main event, ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo will put his belt on the line against old rival Tommy Langaker in a heated rematch.

Sag Northcutt back in action at ONE 165

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Also on the card will be Japanese martial arts legend Shinya Aoki’s long-awaited battle with American superstar Sage Northcutt in a lightweight MMA battle. As if that star-studded lineup wasn’t enough, it was announced this week that two legends of their respective sports.

Nieky Holzken and Yoshihiro Akiyama, are set to square off in a thrilling special rules super-fight. In a first-of-its-kind meeting, each round will feature a different rule set, with boxing in the first, Muay Thai in the second, and MMA in the third and final frame.

The unique structure of their match will favor both fighters at some point in the match. Though on paper, Holzken appears to have the advantage, considering he has a wealth of experience in the striking arts. However, no one should count out “Sexyama,”.

The fighter is coming off back-to-back TKO victories in ONE Championship’s MMA ranks. There’s no way this fight goes down as a one-sided battle fought uphill by one of them. Both of the fighters are bound to electrify the arena with their performances.

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Elsewhere on the card, a catchweight kickboxing match will take place between Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Marat Grigorian. Both fighters are coming off losses and will be hungry to return to the winner’s column, so fans can expect them to leave no stone unturned.

“It’s Incredible What They’ve Achieved” – Liam Harrison Says ONE Championship Is Challenging UFC’s Combat Sports Dominance With Striking Divisions

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Finally, the light heavyweight kickboxing division will be shaken up when Rade Opacic takes on Iraj Azizpour. This one will undoubtedly be a barnburner, as a win would put either man closer to a match with dominant divisional king Roman Kryklia.

“The Range Is So Diverse With the Best Guys in the World” – Sage Northcutt Says Fans Are Catching On to ONE Championship’s Exciting Shows

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Written by:

I'm Prit Chauhan, and I'm a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. I've been in the writing business for three years, covering areas like mass media marketing, and even tried my hand at fiction. My experience includes research work at the University of California, Berkeley, which helps me spin fact-based stories about the world of Mixed Martial Arts effortlessly.

Edited by:

Joyita Das

Yoshihiro Akiyama and Nieky Holzken Get Special Rules Bout as ONE 165 Gets Bolstered With Latest Additions

Sag Northcutt back in action at ONE 165

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