“Bring ONE back to Japan” - Japanese star Kana reveals desire to make an immediate impact in the home of martial arts

Japanese kickboxing star Kana Morimoto plans on making an immediate impact in ONE Championship.

In a blockbuster announcement last month, ONE revealed that the former K-1 flyweight champion had signed with the promotion, further bolstering the organization's stellar women's kickboxing division.

Speaking with the Bangkok Post ahead of her highly anticipated debut on martial arts' biggest global stage, Morimoto made it clear that she plans on making a big statement when she steps inside the Circle for the first time.

“Right now ONE is a big name outside of Japan but doesn’t have events in Japan so often, so it’s kind of hard to be well known in Japan for now,” Morimoto said. "I want to make ONE popular in Japan with my great performances outside Japan, to bring ONE back to Japan and then it will get more attention from fans there.”

Overall, Morimoto is 22-4 in her combat sports career with 11 of her victories coming via KO/TKO. Along the way, she captured titles under the Krush and K-1 banners and was crowned Beyond Kickboxing's 2022 Female Fighter of the Year.

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Kana Morimoto ready to earn her first shot at ONE Championship gold

Thus far, ONE Championship has not announced when or—more importantly—who Kana Morimoto will face when she makes her promotional debut, but whoever it is, she hopes it will immediately put her into contention for a ONE world title.

“I have always wished to become a champion so I want to fight someone in the rankings to prove I deserve that title shot," she said. "I want to fight someone who has experienced a title fight as well.”

She continued, saying:

"I want to showcase that this fighter from Japan and K-1 can excite the audience in the stadium."

Are you excited to see one of the most decorated female kickboxing stars in the world make her ONE Championship premiere?