ONE Championship: Rukiya Anpo signs up, 2 more world title bouts added to ONE 173 card
Blockbuster Tokyo event to feature Christian Lee v Alibeg Rasulov II and Nadaka v Numsurin for inaugural atomweight Muay Thai title
ONE Championship has officially added Japanese superstar Rukiya Anpo to its roster and confirmed two more world title bouts for its blockbuster ONE 173 card, set for November 16 in Japan.
The event will now feature American Christian Lee’s highly anticipated rematch with Russia’s Alibeg Rasulov for the ONE lightweight MMA world title and a historic inaugural ONE atomweight Muay Thai world title fight between Nadaka Yoshinari and Numsurin Chor Ketwina.
The announcement came during a press conference attended by some of the sport’s most prominent names. ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong was joined on stage by reigning champions Yuya Wakamatsu, Superlek Kiatmuu9, Joshua Pacio and Stamp Fairtex, alongside a star-studded line-up that included Anpo, Marat Grigorian, Kana Morimoto, Yuki Yoza and Denis Puric.
Sityodtong said ONE 173 would be a celebration of martial arts and a showcase for Japan’s elite.
“The Japanese athletes here, the superstars, the very best of the best world champion athletes, are here to defend the honour and glory of Japan, and restore the beauty and the passion of martial arts all over the country,” he said. “This is the aspiration and the significance of ONE 173. Japanese fans are in for the biggest treat ever.”
Anpo, a three-division K-1 champion and one of Japan’s most accomplished kick-boxers, made a bold statement about his ambitions.