Hackett Defends Bantamweight Belt Against Akimoto
British bantamweight champion Jonathan Hackett defends his ONE Championship title against former champion Hiroki Akimoto on October 17 in Tokyo, with the Japanese fighter seeking to reclaim the belt after a four-year absence.
Jonathan Hackett, ONE Championship's British bantamweight world champion (135-145 lbs), will defend his title for the third time against Hiroki Akimoto, a formidable Japanese fighter and former champion, at ONE Samurai 4 on Saturday, October 17 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. After two successful title defenses, Hackett heads to Japan for another championship defense, but this challenge differs from his previous ones—Akimoto is a former champion hungry to reclaim the belt after a four-year wait. Both fighters possess world-class credentials, making this bout not merely a title defense but a true test of who rightfully owns the crown.
Hackett captured the ONE bantamweight kickboxing title by knocking out former ONE MMA champion Fabricio Andrade in ONE Fight Night 16 in November 2022, then successfully defended against Chinese striker Wei Rui at ONE 171 in February 2023. He later faced challenger Yuki Yoza at ONE Samurai 1 in April, and despite Yoza's sharp calf kicks, Hackett's superior technique prevailed. Now the British champion must prove he can retain the belt yet again against Akimoto.
Akimoto, known as the "White Elephant, Japan's Cloud Commander" for his aggressive striking style, won the title by defeating Captain Petchyindee Academy at ONE X in March 2022 but lost it in his first defense to Petch Tongnong Petchfergus at ONE 163 in November that year. Recently, Akimoto has surged back with three consecutive victories, including a recent win over teammate Taumu Hisai at ONE Samurai 1, restoring his confidence as he prepares to challenge Hackett before his home crowd with the firm goal of reclaiming his former world title.
Fans interested in attending ONE Samurai 4 can purchase tickets through ONEFC.com/ONESamurai4 and follow event updates on ONE Championship Thailand's Facebook, ONEFC.com, Instagram (@ONEChampTh), and TikTok (@ONEChampTH).
