ONE Championship: Masaaki Noiri advances to tournament final

At the ONE SAMURAI 4 event held at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Masaaki Noiri secured a spot in the featherweight kickboxing tournament final after defeating Mohamed Chiaravalli via a 2-1 split decision. Noiri is set to face Marat Grigorian in the final, a matchup facilitated after Luo Chao failed to pass the mandatory hydration test and weight requirements, resulting in a walkover for Grigorian.

The event saw several complications regarding hydration testing and weight management. Fighter Rukiya Anbo’s match against Bogdan Shumarov was canceled after he failed to clear the hydration test, leading to criticism from ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong regarding professional standards. Additionally, Refadin Masdour also faced hydration test issues before his atomweight Muay Thai world title match against Naotaka Yoshinari, though the bout proceeded following negotiations.

Noiri expressed mixed emotions following his victory, noting a sense of incomplete satisfaction despite the win, but confirmed his readiness to prepare for the final against Grigorian.