One of the biggest stars in Japan made his ONE debut on Sunday as Takeru Segawa challenged flyweight kickboxing champion Superlek Kiatmuu9 for his title.
As two fighters at the apex of the most popular combat sports in their country, Superlek vs Takeru is truly a superfight, putting Muay Thai against Japanese kickboxing, two-weight Lumpinee Stadium champion against the first ever three-weight K-1 champion. Takeru has always been known for his heavy hands, aggression, and durability. Those traits have made him one of the premier action fighters in any combat sport in the world today. His only loss in ten years was against the greatest kickboxer of the millennium, Tenshin Nasukawa, in the biggest fight in Japanese kickboxing history. Meanwhile, Superlek has found a perfect mix of violence and tactical smarts, being one of the foremost technicians in striking today and argubly the pound-for-pound best nak muay in Thailand today. However his belt in ONE Championship is in kickboxing, making him the perfect choice to fight Takeru after Rodtang was unable to.
Takeru had trouble getting into punching range in the first round Superlek kicked hie foe up. Takeru tried to come back with his own leg kicks but Superlek turned up the intensity, jabbibg Takeru up and slaming in leg and body kicks. He got off to a really hot start, and the first round was a clear 10-9 for the champion.
Round two saw Takeru try even harder to press forward and corner Superlek to unload with his punches, but the leg kicks continued to eat his lead left leg up and he began to move gingerly on it. However he did indeed start to corner Superlek halfway through the round and land some punches. Takeru also began to check some of the leg kicks, but the ones he did eat were the most damaging strikes by far. Superlek ended the round with a rope-a-dope.
The hardest pound-for-pound kicker in the world continued to generate absurd power with his leg kicks, and even began to put Takeru on the back foot at points of the third round. With one minute left in the round, Takeru began one of the biggest flurries of his career, throwing a good twenty or thirty punches to the body and head in a matter of seconds, finally making Superlek turtle up and look like he has a weakness. Takeru had to steal at least one round before the championship rounds and he did just that.
Now that Takeru had worn down the champ somewhat, each engagement was more even. Superlek’s kicking was still a dynamic threat, but Takeru’s hands had finally got going and he was routinely tagging the champ. Superlek particularly did not seem to be liking the body punches. However, Superlek began to show a new threat, step-in knees to the body which damaged Takeru. Segawa still just smiled back at Superlek, did a little shimmy, and charged forward more. For the first time, a round’s score was in doubt. The fourth could have gone to either man.
The final round could have started with a tie score, but there was a chance Takeru needed a finish. Superlek’s jab got going early in the round and controlled the space to start, but the relentlessness of Takeru can get him into any fight. Superlek’s knees to the body came even more than the previous round. The action was a consant back and forth, becuase immediately after multiple good knees, Takeru hurt him with a right hand. Superlek’s chin was absurd as ever though, as he fired right back. They absoultely took lumps out of each other for the final minute and a half. Both men were nearly winded but refused to quite, just stumbling forward to do battle with each other until the final bell. After a war like that, the best fight in elite level combat sports this year so far, there was only one thing left to do.
When the judges’ scorecards were read, the call was “and still,” as Superlek Kiatmuu9 defended his title and won his eleventh fight in a row. Although the Japanese fighter and crowd were disappointed, both were classy in defeat, showing appreciation and respect for the champion.
When asked what is next for him, Superlek said he is ready for whatever Chatri throws at him, including going to Muay Thai again to fight Rodtang for his title, which he would have already won if he did not miss weight. For his performance in the Fight of the Night, Superlek recieved $50,000 from Chatri Sityodtong as a bonus.
When the broadcast went to interview Takeru, the superstar was in tears and recieved massive applause and support from his home faithful. His long, emotional speech was shortened by translation, but the translator said that Takeru said he does not know if he can do this anymore, hinting at retirement. He limped to the center of the ring thereafter and bowed his head to the ground, in what was clearly a spiritual experience for him, someone whose religion is combat.
Official Result: Superlek Kiatmuu9 def Takeru Segaway by Unanimous Decision
