The series will feature multiple world title fights with a strong focus on Japanese competitors in MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing and submission wrestling. The series will also feature international martial arts superstars alongside homegrown talent.
U-NEXT, Japan’s leading streaming platform, will broadcast all ONE Samurai events exclusively in the country. The promotion plans to produce 60 events over five years, with details of global broadcasts to be announced at a later date.
ONE Samurai builds on successful Japanese event history
ONE Championship has built a significant presence in Japan in recent years through multiple blockbuster events. The promotion aired ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang out in March 2025 and ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri in November 2025, with both cards featuring multiple world title fights that captivated Japanese audiences and fans around the world.
In January 2024, the promotion hosted ONE 165: Superlek vs. Takeru, culminating in two huge world title fights. The 2019 events ONE: CENTURY and ONE: A NEW ERA both produced numerous World Cup battles that showcased the organization’s ability to produce premium content for Japanese fans.
The ONE Samurai event series represents a significant escalation of the organization’s Japanese presence. Monthly events provide consistent content for domestic audiences while creating regular opportunities for Japanese fighters to compete on home soil.
ONE 175 to ONE SAMURAI 🇯🇵⚔️ The first event will be streamed live exclusively on April 29 as part of 60 events in Japan over the next 5 years! 🔥 Stay tuned for worldwide broadcast details soon.
#ONESAMOERA1 | April 29
🇯🇵Live on U-NEXT
🌎 Global broadcast details to follow soon pic.twitter.com/1aJwpYWfDN— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 18, 2026
New leadership appointed to oversee Japanese operations
At the ONE Samurai press conference, Shuntaro Tanaka was introduced as the organization’s new CEO for Japan and Group Chief Commercial Officer. Tanaka will lead all business operations in Japan while managing business strategy, partnerships, market development and commercial expansion across the organization.
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, attended the press conference along with Japanese superstars representing the talent competing in the new series. These superstars include ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu, ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka, former three-division K-1 Champion Takeru Segawa and former K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza.
The leadership appointment signals ONE Championship’s commitment to expanding its presence in the lucrative Japanese martial arts market. Tanaka’s dual role in overseeing both regional operations and group-wide commercial strategy demonstrates the importance of the Japanese market.
U-NEXT partnership ensures broad Japanese distribution
The exclusive domestic broadcast partnership with U-NEXT provides ONE Championship with access to Japan’s premier streaming platform. The arrangement ensures maximum visibility of ONE Samurai events among Japanese fans while creating a stable distribution channel for the five-year commitment.
The plan of 60 events over five years includes an average of twelve annual events, confirming the monthly rhythm promised at the press conference. This consistent schedule allows Japanese fighters to build momentum and fan bases through regular competition, while giving viewers access to world-class martial arts action. Details about the worldwide broadcast will be announced later.
The launch of the ONE Samurai series represents ONE Championship’s most ambitious expansion of the Japanese market. The combination of monthly events, world title fights, a focus on homegrown talent and an exclusive streaming partnership creates a comprehensive strategy to dominate the Japanese combat sports landscape.
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