ONE Championship

A rematch three years in the making now opens a direct path to the vacant ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title for whoever comes out on top.

Itsuki Hirata settles unfinished business with Jihin Radzuan in a pivotal atomweight MMA rematch when ONE SAMURAI 4 streams live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, October 17. The bout headlines a card built around fan-favorite talent from across the region.

Hirata entered their first meeting at ONE X in 2022 as the clear favorite off a flawless 4-0 promotional start, only to see Jihin’s clever escapes and timing hand her a split-decision upset. A win this time would settle that score and thrust Hirata back into the World Title conversation after a rollercoaster stretch that tested her resolve.

Jihin’s own path to this rematch has been just as compelling. The Fairtex Training Center and Foxgloves Fight Gym representative has built a 10-5 record with nine promotional wins, including victories over former World Title challenger Mei Yamaguchi and hard-fought battles against former ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice Zamboanga and former three-sport queen Stamp Fairtex. A third-round stoppage of previously undefeated Gabriela Fujimoto in February further underlined her range as a finisher.

Itsuki Hirata’s rematch carries championship stakes for both

Itsuki Hirata has rebuilt steadily since that setback, winning two of her last three outings and elevating her record to 8-5 behind a submission finish of Ritu Phogat. Jihin, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from a split-decision loss to Anastasia Nikolakakos this past July and reassert her dominance in a rivalry she has already won once.

A definitive win for either woman would do more than settle old business. It would place the victor firmly in the conversation for the vacant ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title, raising the stakes on a rematch that already carried plenty of history heading into Tokyo.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM