“Aiming for the Knockout” – Masaaki Noiri Breaks Silence Unveil His Skills in ONE 167 Against Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong

Ever since Masaaki Noiri signed with ONE Championship, he has been eagerly awaiting a chance to showcase his talent to the world. The Japanese star will finally get a chance to do so when he makes his promotional debut against Thai veteran Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE 167: Stamp vs Zamboanga on Friday, June 7, inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Speaking to the South China Morning Post’s Andrew Whitelaw, Noiri shared that while he has enjoyed putting on a show for fans in his country, it was time for a global audience to see what he’s got.

Masaaki Noiri is ready to show the world his skills

The Japanese star boasts one of the best kickboxing records in his country. However, Masaaki Noiri is not satisfied with his accomplishments at home. Now, he wants to venture globally for better fights and to improve his skills further “I’m so excited because I’ve been fighting in Japan, I have been showing my strength and proving that I’m the best in Japan, and, finally, I’m here to show to the world who I am, so I’m very excited,” he said.

Noiri is a two-division K-1 World Champion and is widely regarded as one of kickboxing’s greatest talents today. But for those who may not be familiar with him just yet, he offered an idea of what they can expect from him when the bell rings for his match on June 7.

“I’m always aiming for the knockout, finishing opponents, that’s my thing. So I want ONE fans to expect that from me,” Noiri said. The 31-year-old will carry a 49-11 record with him to ONE Championship, and he is also riding a streak of 11 wins from his last 12 bouts.

Passion for kickboxing and ONE Championship journey…

He believes his success comes from a genuine love of kickboxing, which keeps him motivated to be the best. “I love this sport, I love kickboxing. It’s also my hobby. My biggest motivation is to make my family happy. I’m not a genius, I’m not someone who was a star when I was born, I’m the fighter who thinks about putting in the effort to achieve this, so that’s who I am,” Noiri said.

The Tokyo native will have the option of competing in multiple sports under the ONE banner, though, right now, he’s only committing to one in particular. That said, with a roster stacked with stars, he won’t be without a world-class opponent wherever he chooses to go in his new home.

“Of course, I’m not sure if I’m going to fight in Muay Thai, but kickboxing for sure. This is the reason why I signed with ONE Championship, to get this belt,” Noiri said. The Japanese kickboxing sensation will be fighting Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE 167. Their clash would decide the fate of the fighters.