A highly anticipated matchup is set for ONE Championship`s bantamweight division, pitting Japan against Russia.
ONE Championship has officially announced the promotional debut of former K-1 lightweight champion Yuki Yoza. He is scheduled to face the undefeated Russian prospect Elbrus Osmanov at ONE Friday Fights 109 on May 23rd.
This booking concludes a very dynamic period for the Japanese star. In a span of just two weeks, Yoza announced his departure from K-1, vacated his championship belt, signed a contract with ONE Championship, and secured his first fight date with the organization.
Yoza is currently ranked number one in the -64 kg Beyond Kickboxing rankings, partly due to defeating former champion Taio Asahisa twice since 2022. He is riding an impressive 10-fight winning streak. For this upcoming bout in ONE`s bantamweight division (65.8 kg), he will be moving up in weight from his previous fighting weight of 62.5 kg. Known for his exciting striking style, Yoza also has a distinguished background in Kyokushin Karate and holds the distinction of being the youngest IKO world champion ever, having claimed the title at the age of 19.
His opponent, the 23-year-old Elbrus Osmanov, maintains a perfect professional record of 12 wins and 0 losses. He has been highlighted as a potential future star in ONE`s bantamweight class. Despite achieving a flawless 6-0 record within the promotion, the Team Mehdi Zatout fighter had not yet signed a long-term deal with ONE – until now.
Gareth Tenby