CEO Chatri Sityodtong calls Japanese star’s first-round demolition of Liu Mengyang at ONE Samurai 2 the finest performance of his career
Masaaki Noiri has promised to knock out Mohammad Siasarani in the ONE Samurai featherweight kickboxing tournament semi-finals before completing a route back to Superbon and the ONE Championship world title.
The Japanese star delivered a near-perfect opening statement on Saturday, stopping Liu Mengyang with a left hook one second before the end of the first round at Tokyo’s Ebara Wave Arena Ota.
Noiri avenged his December 2024 decision defeat by the Chinese contender and advanced to face Siasarani, who had knocked out Kaito with a left high kick earlier in the evening.
“I will win my next fight by KO just like this one,” Noiri said in his in-ring interview. “I think Grigorian will come through to the final. I’ll knock him out and challenge Superbon for revenge.”
The 33-year-old must first get past Siasarani, with three-time Glory champion Grigorian facing Luo Chao in the other semi-final.
Masaaki Noiri has his hand raised after avenging his 2024 loss to Liu Mengyang with a first-round knockout
Noiri lost a unanimous decision to the Thai star in their featherweight kickboxing title unification bout at ONE 173 in Tokyo last November.
The former interim champion has since treated that defeat as the starting point for another rebuild, overhauling his physical preparation ahead of Samurai 2.
“To be honest, it was so hard I cried,” Noiri said at the post-event press conference. “I still had more to give, but my body would not move. I was frustrated and disappointed in myself.”
ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong was similarly emphatic in his assessment backstage.
“I think the final will be Noiri against Grigorian,” Chatri said. “Grigorian is one of the best in the world, but if Noiri can fight the way he did tonight, he has a very good chance of winning.
“I have watched many of Noiri’s fights, but the KO power, aggression and timing he showed today – I think it was the best performance of his whole career.”
Masaaki Noiri celebrates with cornerman and teammate Takeru Segawa after beating Liu Mengyang at ONE Samurai 2
“If Noiri stays focused and beats Siasarani, I think he will also have a good chance of winning the final,” Chatri added.
The Iranian is unbeaten in six kickboxing bouts under the ONE banner and needed just 87 seconds to finish Kaito in their quarter-final.
Noiri had also carried considerable pressure into the Samurai 2 main event after teammate Takeru beat Rodtang in the headline bout of the inaugural show in April.
“Before the event, a lot of people were saying, ‘Isn’t the card weak?’ and wondering how it would go,” Noiri said. “Honestly, I was worried. But I believed that if I closed the show well, people would feel the event was a success.”
Noiri set a furious pace from the opening bell, working at close range with Liu and repeatedly attacking the body before finding the decisive combination in the final seconds of the round.
A right hand staggered the 23-year-old before two left hooks sent him to the canvas, where he was unable to beat the count.
Masaaki Noiri lands a a left hook on Liu Mengyang to end their featherweight kickboxing tournament quarter-final
The emphatic revenge victory also earned Noiri a 15 million yen [around US$95,000] performance bonus.
His ONE run had begun with consecutive decision losses to Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Liu in 2024, but he responded by stopping Shakir Al-Tekreeti and Tawanchai PK Saenchai to claim the interim belt before falling short against Superbon last year.
Chatri said the tournament semi-finals could take place at ONE Samurai 3 in Yokohama on September 12 or ONE Samurai 4 at Ariake Arena on October 17, depending on the condition of the four remaining fighters.
Noiri is not interested in simply returning to a title fight. His objective is to reverse the result when he gets there.
Liu Mengyang embraces Masaaki Noiri after their ONE Samurai 2 main event in Tokyo
“My biggest goal is to win the tournament, challenge Superbon, get revenge and wear the ONE featherweight kickboxing belt,” he said.