The final time she confronted this opponent, a adorned judoka spent a complete battle unable to land a single signature throw. Greater than 4 years later, she believes that weak spot has grow to be a power.
Itsuki Hirata meets Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan in an atomweight MMA rematch at ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17. The bout takes place at Ariake Area in Tokyo, Japan.
“Android 18” entered ONE X in 2022 with 4 straight wins on the worldwide stage, three of them by end. Jihin neutralized her grappling over three rounds and earned a detailed cut up determination, handing the Japanese star the primary defeat of her profession.
That loss uncovered vulnerabilities her early wins had masked, and a three-fight skid adopted. Quite than let it outline her, the 27-year-old spent the years since turning these flaws into strengths.
“Final time I fought her, she managed me, and I couldn’t do something on the bottom for the entire battle. However now, I’ve improved my grappling, so I’ve a greater probability to defeat her. I’m very a lot improved, particularly with my grappling,” Hirata stated.
Itsuki Hirata eyes the vacant atomweight crown
Hirata has gained two of her final three outings, together with a third-round submission of Ritu Phogat at ONE SAMURAI 1 in April. The ONE Girls’s Atomweight MMA World Title now sits vacant after Denice Zamboanga relinquished the belt.
The Tokyo native sees the rematch as a de facto title eliminator. In her thoughts, the winner needs to be subsequent in line for gold, and that leaves her no margin for error.
“At first, I assumed Jihin was positively in line to battle for the World Title subsequent. However in some way, we’ve ended up with this rematch. So in my thoughts, whoever wins this battle needs to be the subsequent contender for the belt,” Hirata stated.
“That’s why I can’t lose this battle. I’ve to win. I have to win, as a result of if I don’t, I’ve no proper to speak concerning the World Title.”
This text appeared first on BJPENN.COM
