“A fighter that I respect a lot” - Kana considers ONE debut against the great Anissa Meksen a dream fight

Japanese kickboxing sensation Kana Morimoto has nothing but respect for her first opponent under the ONE Championship banner — Anissa Meksen.

After making a name for herself in K-1, 'Krusher Queen' is ready to test her mettle on the global stage. She'll do exactly that this Friday, December 20, when ONE heads back to the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok for its final event of 2024, ONE Friday Fights 92.

There, Kana will go toe-to-toe with Meksen in a fight that could have immediate title implications in the atomweight kickboxing division.

Ahead of her highly anticipated promotional debut, Kana showed a great deal of respect for 'C18,' but made it clear that this fight is nothing more than a stepping stone toward her dream of one day becoming a ONE world champion.

"And also, a fighter that I respect a lot, Anissa Meksen, is also fighting in ONE Championship," Kana said at the ONE Friday Fights 92 virtual press conference. "As a martial artist and as a fighter, it’s my dream to go for a title match and get the belt."

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Will Kana Morimoto's success in Japan translate into success on martial arts' biggest stage?

Following a successful amateur career, Kana Morimoto came into her own as a professional fighter — particularly in 2019 when she fought her way through a stacked field to win the K-1 Women's Flyweight World Grand Prix.

In the four years that followed, she reigned over the flyweight division with an iron fist, adding to her legacy in The Land of the Rising Sun. Overall, 'Krusher Queen' carries with her an impressive 22-4 record, with 50% of her wins coming by KO/TKO.

Kana will face a tough test in her promotional premiere when she meets Meksen, a woman who knows a thing or two about capturing world titles.

Meksen is one of the most experienced female fighters in ONE Championship, holding 103 career wins, including victories over Cristina Morales, Dangkongfah Banchamek, and Marie Ruumet.

Who comes out on top when two of the best female fighters in the world strap on eight-ounce gloves for a high-stakes scrap in The Land of Smiles?

ONE Friday Fights 92: Sitthichai vs. Shadow will air live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, December 20, in Asian primetime to more than 190 million countries around the globe.