“I fought to the death” - Takeru Segawa channels deep into his spirit in epic knockout of Thant Zin in Bangkok

Takeru Segawa knew he had to dig deep into his fortitude if he wanted to stop Thant Zin this past week.

The Japanese kickboxing legend secured his first win in ONE Championship when he knocked out Thant Zin in the second round of their flyweight matchup at ONE Friday Fights 81 at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.

Takeru's win, however, didn't come all that easily.

Taking to Instagram, Takeru admitted he was scared of losing the fight after getting dropped in the first. That knockdown, however, sparked the intensity within Takeru.

He wrote:

"First match after injury, I was under the pressure that if I lost this fight, it would be over. It's been a while since I was scared of a match. I was knocked down and woke up. I fought to the death, thinking that if I lost here, it would be over. I was able to return to my style of being determined and going out to defeat."

Getting into a slow start in the first round, Takeru Segawa fell to the canvas when he ate a cracker of a left hand from the surging Thant Zin.

Takeru, however, channeled his championship mentality and came back with a dogged fervor in the second.

The three-division K-1 Kickboxing world champion shifted gears and blasted Thant Zin on different levels.

Sensing that the Burmese fighter was on the back foot, Takeru unleashed his trademark toe kick that landed flush on Zin's solar plexus to even the knockdown count.

Takeru then finished Thant Zin off with a blinding flurry for the second-round knockout finish.

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Takeru Segawa says fighting at Lumpinee was a dream come true for him

Venues sometimes add to the prestige of a fight, and Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium is often considered one of combat sports most hallowed spaces.

Takeru Segawa knew fighting in Thailand was always a special honor for any fighter, but Lumpinee was an arena with an almost mythic aura.

During the virtual press conference for ONE Friday Fights 81, Takeru said fighting at the Bangkok arena has always been on his bucket list.

"No, I do not fixate on the place or arena. And in the first place, I've always wanted to fight in Lumpinee. And this time, I got the chance to fight in the Lumpinee, it makes me very happy. For this fight in Lumpinee, I'll be the one to take the victory."