ONE Championship has revealed the first two matchups for its highly anticipated return to Japanese soil for ONE 173 at Tokyo's Ariake Arena on November 16.
In the main event of what’s expected to be a stacked show, ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon finally meets interim title holder Masaaki Noiri in a match that will determine the division's undisputed king.
The Thai striker has established himself as one of the sport's most complete fighters in the promotion, combining traditional Muay Thai and modern kickboxing, making him near untouchable in the featherweight ranks.
Superbon reclaimed his championship status in April 2024 with a commanding unanimous decision victory over former foe Marat Grigorian, showcasing the tactical brilliance and striking diversity that defined his championship reign.
While his pursuit of two-sport glory fell short against Tawanchai PK Saenchai in the Muay Thai realm, the 34-year-old now returns to his kickboxing domain with the opportunity to cement his legacy against one of Thailand’s brightest striking stars.
Noiri has emerged as a major player in the ONE featherweight kickboxing division following his breakthrough performance at ONE 172, where the Japanese sensation delivered a stunning third-round technical knockout of Tawanchai to capture interim gold in front of his home crowd at Saitama Super Arena.
That victory, which came after his systematic dismantling of Shakir Al-Tekreeti earlier in 2025, catapulted the former K-1 Champion into this showdown with one of the promotion’s biggest stars in Superbon.
Malykhin eyes redemption
The co-main event promises equally compelling drama as Anatoly "Sladkiy" Malykhin seeks redemption against "Reug Reug" Oumar Kane in a ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title rematch that will determine who truly rules the division's mountaintop.
Malykhin entered their November 2024 encounter as MMA's first-ever three-division World Champion, boasting an unblemished professional record and a perfect finishing rate that had made him appear virtually invincible across multiple weight classes.
However, the Senegalese challenger's wrestling pedigree, clinch control, and striking improvements proved to be the perfect formula for ending Malykhin's historic reign, with Kane securing a split-decision victory to become the first African-born ONE World Champion.
The Russian powerhouse has made no secret of his desire for immediate redemption, while Kane remains determined to prove his championship victory was no aberration by delivering an even more emphatic statement in their highly anticipated rematch.
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