Masaaki Noiri Reinvents Himself Ahead Of Mohammad Siasarani ONE Featherweight World Grand Prix Quaterfinal Clash
Few would have bet on Masaaki Noiri after he lost his first two ONE Championship fights. The Japanese superstar clawed his way back to claim interim gold anyway, and every detour since has only sharpened his resolve.
The former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion now faces Mohammad Siasarani in a semifinal of the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament at ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17, live from Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
Noiri booked his place by crumpling Liu “Spirit Dragon” Mengyang with a first-round knockout in the ONE SAMURAI 2 main event in August, avenging a 2024 loss. One bout earlier on that card, Siasarani needed just 87 seconds to flatten Kaito with a head kick.
The Iranian has won six straight, including victories over Liu and Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong, the two men who handed Noiri his early defeats.
“Siasarani’s fighting style is just really skillful. I get the impression he’s always fighting with his head, thinking things through,” Noiri said.
“When it comes to scoring points too, he can properly rack up points across all three rounds and win on the scorecards, or, like last time, he can finish someone with one shot too. He’s just good at everything, an all-around skilled fighter.”
The 33-year-old Nagoya native thrives on constant growth. All three of his ONE victories have ended inside the distance.
“My theme in doing this sport has always been, ‘grow a little more than I did yesterday and show a Masaaki Noiri who’s even more evolved than in the last fight,'” he said.
“I made a pretty strong impact last time, and I have to top that impact because I really hate staying stagnant. I want people to look at me and go, ‘Whoa, Noiri’s still evolving, even at this age.'”
The tournament winner earns a shot at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon, who beat Noiri at ONE 173. Marat Grigorian meets “The Handsome White Dragon” Luo Chao in the other semifinal, and Noiri already has a preference for the final.
“My guess is Grigorian will come up through the bracket. Grigorian’s someone I’ve always wanted to fight, and if I don’t get past that, I don’t think I’ll have earned the right to get a title match,” Noiri said.
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