Masaaki Noiri believes every piece of his grand redemption story has already fallen into place. Now, the ***** anese superstar simply must deliver the definitive results to complete it.
The former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion will rematch "Spirit Dragon" Liu Mengyang in the quarterfinals of the highly anticipated ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament at ONE SAMURAI 2. The blockbuster event takes place on Saturday, August 8, broadcasting live from Tokyo's EBARA WAVE Arena Ota, streaming via live.onefc.com.
Their first meeting in December 2024 ended with Liu handing Noiri his second straight loss in ONE Championship, marking the very first time the ***** anese standout had suffered consecutive defeats in his illustrious career. The Chinese striker stepped in on short notice, surprised Noiri in the first round, and ultimately earned a unanimous decision.
More than a year and a half later, the 33-year-old finally has the coveted opportunity to settle the score and advance in an elite eight-man tournament. The eventual winner of this prestigious bracket will earn a guaranteed shot at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
The ***** anese veteran recalled:

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