Japan¡¯s most accomplished Muay Thai fighter is eager to light up Lumpinee Stadium.
This Friday, June 27, will step into enemy territory and face red-hot Thai sensation in an atomweight Muay Thai showdown at in Bangkok.
Nadaka has quickly established himself as one of the most talked-about fighters in ONE. His debut knockout victory over in Japan earlier this year showcased his technical brilliance, his blazing speed, and his incredible finishing ability.
Now, his upcoming clash at Muay Thai¡¯s most sacred venue promises even more fireworks, with Nadaka looking to once again prove that his nation¡¯s strikers can compete with the very best Thailand has to offer.
He recently spoke to about what fans can expect when he goes toe-to-toe with Banluelok:
¡°My second ONE fight is at Lumpinee Stadium. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve gone into an opponent¡¯s home country, but even in enemy territory, I will properly show my strength and my Muay Thai.
¡°I will definitely win, and I want to prove the strength of Japanese martial arts.¡±
The 24-year-old has done his homework on Banluelok, who has finished all three of his ONE opponents in spectacular and dominant fashion.
But Nadaka, with his jam-packed trophy case and mountain of world-class experience, isn¡¯t intimidated. Instead, he¡¯s identified exactly what makes Banluelok dangerous and has formulated a game plan to neutralize those threats:
¡°Banluelok has fought three times in ONE so far with three wins and three KOs. He¡¯s a fighter with high finishing ability and offensive power. Plus, he¡¯s a southpaw, and I have the impression he¡¯s a rare type among Thai fighters who uses a lot of in-and-out movement.
¡°Furthermore, he¡¯s won gold medals in kickboxing competitions, so I have the impression he¡¯s a two-way fighter who can use kickboxing style despite being from Muay Thai.¡±
With all of that in mind, Nadaka has mapped out a strategic approach for Friday¡¯s hotly anticipated clash.
Rather than rushing for an early finish, he plans to use his superior pacing and timing to break down Banluelok over three rounds:
¡°I think it will be a battle of speed from the beginning, so the key is to surpass him in that speed. If my opponent thinks he can¡¯t win in speed, I think he¡¯ll come into close range. So when he comes in aggressively, I want to hit him with a counter or some big movement to finish him.
¡°So, rather than knocking him out in the first round, I¡¯m thinking of working for all three rounds and knocking him out with technique.¡±
¡®The Perfect Stage For My Goal¡¯
Since making his ONE Championship debut in March at the blockbuster , Nadaka Yoshinari has witnessed firsthand the global reach and impact of the world¡¯s largest martial arts organization.
Although he was already a 10-time Muay Thai World Champion and a pound-for-pound powerhouse, the exposure ONE provides has transformed his career and opened doors to opportunities he never imagined possible.
Nadaka explained:
¡°After my ONE signing was announced and my debut fight at the March event took place, my overseas followers increased tremendously before and after the fight, so my total followers nearly doubled.
¡°The majority of them were overseas fans, which made me realize that this really is a globally recognized organization. There were many comments from overseas martial arts fans who seemed to appreciate my style. I think this is the perfect stage for my goal of becoming a world-class fighter.¡±
Nadaka¡¯s battle against Banluelok Sitwatcharachai at ONE Friday Fights 114 is just the next step in his promising ONE Championship journey.
With the blockbuster recently announced for Tokyo on November 16, the Japanese sensation is even more motivated to impress and earn a high-profile fight on home turf:
¡°With the venue being Ariake Arena, Japanese martial arts fans are really excited. I was able to be part of the excitement at the previous event in March [ONE 172]. If I win this fight properly and keep winning, I think they¡¯ll book me for the November event, too.¡±
