ONE Friday Fights 81 results: Takeru Segawa vs. Thant Zin

Japanese kickboxing icon Takeru Segawa stepped into the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday for a flyweight kickboxing clash with Burmese knockout specialist Thant Zin.

In January, the former three-division K-1 world champion came up short in his promotional debut against 'The Kicking Machine' Superlek Kiatmoo9. However, ‘The Natural Born Crusher’ fully displayed his fighting spirit and took ‘The Kicking Machine’ to the limit.

This time, he attempted to end the unbeaten streak of a dangerous 19-year-old striker out of Myanmar who had his sights set on scoring the biggest win of his career.

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Round 1: Takeru comes out firing a lead leg attack right away. Thant Zin fires one right back before throwing a right hook-left low kick combination. Takeru comes right back, but the Lethwei specialist lands a nice right hook that sends Takeru stumbling back. The Japanese star seems to be carrying his left hand low, which is allowing Thant to land his right in the early going. Thant explodes forward and clips the Team Vasileus star with a left.

Takeru goes back to Thant’s lead leg, but the Burmese knockout artist storms right back with a combination. Thant lunges in with a left that catches Takeru clean and sits the former K-1 star down. Takeru answers the count and continues to come forward, but it’s Thant who lands the more impactful strikes as the first round ends.

Round 2: Thant comes out swinging with a lunging one-two attack. Thant checks a leg kick from Takeru and responds with a stiff jab that pops the Japanese star’s head back. As we reach the one-minute mark, Takeru starts to let his hands go and has Thant retreating. Takeru busts out the knees, attempting to land a shot up the middle.

Takeru’s continued leg attacks force Thant to switch stances and Takeru pours it off, dropping the 19-year-old with a brutal front kick to the body. Thant answers the call, but he’s clearly compromised. Takeru hops in with a knee, goes headhunting and lands a right-left combination that sends Thant to the canvas for the second and final time.

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ONE Friday Fights 81 - Takeru vs. Thant Zin Official Result

With the win, Takeru Segawa secured his first victory under the ONE Championship banner and did so in spectacular fashion. Overall, it is his 44th career win and 26th knockout.

Following the bout, Takeru was met in the ring by longtime ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon, teasing a long-awaited fight between the two combat sports icons.

Things got a little heated with the two warriors going face-to-face and getting into a bit of a shoving match, but in the end, there was nothing but respect between Takeru and Rodtang.

Official Result: Takeru defeated Thant Zin via knockout (knee-punch combination) at 2:47 of round two (kickboxing - flyweight)