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On a crisp November evening at Tokyo's Ariake Arena, as 24-year-old Nadaka Yoshinari stood in the center of the Circle with his hand raised in victory, the roar from the Japanese crowd was deafening. But beneath the celebration was something more profound: vindication. After five rounds of surgical precision against Thailand's Numsurin Chor Ketwina, Nadaka had just become the inaugural ONE Championship Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion, extending his unbeaten streak to a staggering 40 consecutive fights and cementing his status as the most successful non-Thai Muay Thai fighter in history. "I strongly feel I need to show my own unique Muay Thai that won't lose in excitement," Nadaka had said before the fight. On November 16, 2025, at ONE 173, he delivered on that promise with a unanimous decision victory that was never in doubt. Using feints to draw his opponent in before countering with devastating accuracy, the southpaw from Yokosuka controlled every aspect of the bout. A sharp left straight in the opening round set the tone. By the final bell, all three judges scored the fight decisively in his favor. For the Japanese phenom known to Thai media as the "Muay Thai Monster" and "Genius Muay Thai Boy," this wasn't just another belt to add to his collection of 10 world titles. It was a coronation on home soil, a validation of a journey that began when a curious 11-year-old boy first stepped into a Thai boxing ring and discovered his calling.

Nadaka Yoshinari was born on January 8, 2001, in Yokosuka, a port city in Kanagawa Prefecture known more for its American naval base than its martial arts tradition. The youngest son in a family where physical activity was encouraged, Nadaka's path into combat sports began at age four when his older brother inspired him to take up karate. "Some of those karate movements and kicking techniques are still with me," Nadaka would later reflect. "Movements that you practice when you're young tend to become ingrained in your muscle memory. Even as an adult, you are able to replicate them as if they were second nature to you." By age nine, during his third year of primary school, the young Nadaka had transitioned to kickboxing. Over the next five years as an amateur, he would compile a formidable record of 80 wins against just 13 losses across 95 fights, capturing 17 amateur titles along the way. Even then, his coaches at Eiwa Sports Gym in Yokohama could see something special in the boy's dedication and technical aptitude. But the moment that would truly define his destiny came at age 11, when Nadaka made his first trip to Thailand, the birthplace of Muay Thai. He made his ring debut in the sport's motherland against an older, heavier opponent. He lost on points. For most children, such a defeat in a foreign country might have been discouraging. For Nadaka, it was a revelation. "The atmosphere, the tradition, the raw authenticity resonated with the Kanagawa native on a profound level," according to ONE Championship's profile of the fighter. From that moment forward, he was all-in on Muay Thai. The sport's blend of technical precision, cultural depth, and combat effectiveness captivated him in ways that kickboxing never had. He had found his art.

Upon returning to Japan, Nadaka made what would prove to be the most consequential decision of his young life: he would dedicate himself entirely to becoming a world champion in Muay Thai. To maximize his training time, he enrolled at Renaissance High School, a correspondence program that would allow him to pursue his studies while training twice daily—morning and evening sessions at Eiwa Sports Gym. It was at Eiwa, a renowned facility in Yokohama with over 400 members, that Nadaka's transformation truly began. Under the guidance of Professor Natsuo Nakagawa, the gym's president, and especially Professor Khundong Por Thawatchai, a former Thai boxer who had settled in Japan, Nadaka was molded in the authentic Thai style. But what truly distinguished his development was Nakagawa's unique approach to learning.

"The gym where I primarily trained had many Thai trainers. So I learned a lot of Muay Thai techniques," Nadaka explained. "That's one reason I started using techniques a bit different from typical Japanese fighters. Another factor is that President Nakagawa told me from a young age to watch lots of fight footage. I watched countless fights by fighters I admired and tried to mimic them from a very young age. I really feel that approach has made me who I am today." This combination of authentic Thai instruction and intensive film study would become the foundation of Nadaka's distinctive style—technically pure but strategically innovative, rooted in tradition yet uniquely his own.

However, the path to greatness wasn't without its stumbling blocks. Despite the grand plans for morning and evening training sessions, the teenage Nadaka initially struggled with consistency. "Originally, in junior high, I went to a regular school where I practiced at night. I had actually envisioned practicing both morning and night, but in the early days, I didn't really practice much in the morning," he admitted candidly. "I had this lax attitude like, 'Well, I'll just practice at night, right?' So, I think it was precisely because I went through that period where things weren't going well that I started practicing diligently both morning and night. That was a big factor."

That period of struggle manifested in his early professional results. Though he enjoyed a victorious debut at Bangkok's legendary Lumpinee Stadium at just 14 years old—an achievement that hinted at his enormous potential—he soon hit a rough patch, absorbing three defeats in his next seven fights. For many fighters, such early setbacks would have derailed their careers. For Nadaka, they became the catalyst for transformation.

The teenager who emerged from those early losses was a different fighter—more focused, more disciplined, more complete. He committed himself to training with a monastic intensity, studying not just Muay Thai but the science of combat itself. His ideal, as he would later articulate, was to become a fighter without weaknesses. "My ideal fighting style is one where I can do everything—kicks, punches, clinching, elbows, knees, anything," Nadaka explained. "That's my ultimate goal for my fighting style. Now, I'm incorporating boxing training thoroughly to complete my arsenal."

This philosophy of completeness would become his signature. While many fighters rely on their strengths and accept their limitations, Nadaka pursued versatility with a perfectionist's zeal. He adopted a southpaw stance that gave him defensive advantages. He studied the angles and movement of kickboxing to confuse opponents expecting traditional Thai rhythms. He developed devastating elbows—particularly his left elbow—into weapons of mass destruction. Most importantly, he cultivated an ability to adapt his approach to any opponent, making him unpredictable and extremely difficult to prepare for.

The results spoke for themselves. At age 16 in 2017, Nadaka became Japan's youngest-ever Muay Thai World Champion when he captured the WMC strap at 100 pounds, knocking out Thailand's Yaksaed Siriluck Muaythai in Tokyo. The victory was more than symbolic; it announced that a new force had arrived in the sport. In April 2018, still just 17 years old, he won the WBC World Title at 105 pounds. Five months later, he claimed the IBF title at the same weight, again by knockout. In recognition of his dominance, the WBC elected him "Best Boxer of the Year 2018"—a remarkable honor for an 18-year-old and one rarely bestowed upon non-Thai fighters, let alone teenagers.

But these international titles, prestigious as they were, represented only the prelude to his greatest achievements. The real tests awaited in Thailand itself, in the storied stadiums where Muay Thai champions are truly made.

In the world of Muay Thai, there are championships, and then there are the championships. Lumpinee Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok are the sport's most hallowed venues, the Madison Square Garden and Fenway Park of "the art of eight limbs." To win a title at either venue is a career-defining achievement. To win at both places a fighter among the elite. For a foreigner to do so? That's the stuff of legend. On December 9, 2018, at just 17 years old, Nadaka challenged Hercules Phetsimean, the unified Rajadamnern and Lumpinee mini-flyweight champion, for the Rajadamnern title. Fighting on Thai soil against a Thai champion in front of a Thai crowd, Nadaka did the unthinkable: he won a unanimous decision after five grueling rounds, capturing his first major Thai stadium title.

But he wasn't finished. On April 14, 2019, Nadaka fought Singdum Kafaefogus for the vacant Lumpinee mini-flyweight championship—the belt that Hercules had vacated. Over five rounds at the legendary venue where his professional journey had begun five years earlier, Nadaka fought with the poise and precision of a seasoned veteran, earning another unanimous decision. At 18 years old, Nadaka Yoshinari had achieved what only one other foreigner in history had accomplished: he held both Rajadamnern Stadium and Lumpinee Stadium World Championship gold simultaneously. The only other non-Thai to achieve this feat was Morocco's Youssef Boughanem, making Nadaka part of the most exclusive club in Muay Thai.

But even this historic achievement wouldn't satisfy the young champion's ambitions. Over the next several years, he would do something no foreigner had ever done before or since: he conquered two additional weight divisions at Rajadamnern Stadium, claiming titles at 112 pounds and 115 pounds to become the only non-Thai fighter to win three Rajadamnern Stadium championships across different weight classes. "When a foreigner competes at Rajadamnern, they are often faced with the strongest Thai fighters, and in such competitions, Thai fighters tend to have an advantage with the judges," legendary Dutch kickboxer Ernesto Hoost, who trained with Nadaka, observed. The Japanese fighter's ability to not just compete but dominate in this environment spoke to his exceptional skill and mental fortitude.

The Thai media, notoriously selective in their praise of foreign fighters, took notice. They dubbed him the "Muay Thai Monster" and the "Genius Muay Thai Boy"—nicknames that reflected both respect and a hint of bewilderment at how a Japanese fighter could master their national sport so completely. He also earned the moniker "The Samurai," partly due to the spectacular wai kru (pre-fight ritual dance) he performed before his bouts, which incorporated movements inspired by Japanese samurai wielding swords—a beautiful fusion of his Japanese heritage with Thai tradition.

What makes Nadaka Yoshinari so effective inside the ring? The answer lies in his rare combination of technical mastery, strategic intelligence, and adaptability. Standing 5'4" and fighting in the sport's lightest weight classes, he has turned what others might see as physical limitations into strategic advantages. His southpaw stance forms the foundation of his approach, offering both offensive opportunities and defensive benefits. "There are many advantages to fighting in a southpaw stance like Yoshinari," Ernesto Hoost noted after training with the young champion. The unorthodox stance creates uncomfortable angles for orthodox fighters and disrupts the timing they've spent years developing.

But Nadaka's game goes far beyond simple stance advantages. He employs what observers have described as "kickboxing-style angles and movement," using lateral movement and positional shifts that confound opponents expecting traditional Thai boxing rhythms. He sets traps with feints, draws opponents in, then counters with surgical precision. His left elbow has become particularly feared—a weapon that has ended multiple fights in devastating fashion, including his second-round knockout of Phetnipon Sak.ChorRorBor in 2022, when a perfectly timed left elbow strike put an emphatic end to the contest.

Perhaps most impressively, Nadaka demonstrates a fighter's I.Q. that belies his youth. He reads opponents, identifies patterns, and adjusts mid-fight with the sophistication of a chess master. In his interview with Ernesto Hoost, he revealed his philosophy on avoiding injuries: "Aiming accurately at where your opponent's guard is open is very important from the point of avoiding injuries." This attention to precision—striking only when the target is truly available—exemplifies his technical maturity. "Completely technically sound in every area of Muay Thai," one analyst wrote on a combat sports forum. "Great offense and defense, great boxing, kick, knees, clinching. Great movement, can fight on backfoot. Skill for skill he is far superior to someone like Dani Rodriguez [another highly-regarded non-Thai fighter], even though Dani probably gets more attention."

His training regimen reflects his comprehensive approach. Beyond traditional Muay Thai work, Nadaka has incorporated boxing training to sharpen his hands, studied film of elite fighters to expand his tactical understanding, and focused on conditioning that allows him to maintain his technical precision over five rounds. The result is a complete fighter with no obvious holes in his game—the embodiment of his stated ideal to be able to "do everything."

Beginning in 2019, Nadaka embarked on what would become one of the most dominant runs in modern Muay Thai history. Fight after fight, opponent after opponent, he simply kept winning. By the time he made his ONE Championship debut in March 2025, his winning streak had reached 39 consecutive victories, with 23 of those coming by stoppage. During this period, Nadaka fought and defeated a who's who of elite competition across multiple weight classes and organizations. He won the Battle of Muay Thai Flyweight tournament in late 2019, knocking out both Lee Ji Sung and Chi Yeung Fung in the same night—the latter with a devastating head kick. He defeated top Thai fighters like Phetmalai Phetjaroenvit (first-round knockout), Ibuki Bravely (first-round left elbow knockout), and Bandasak So Trakunpet (first-round TKO). Along the way, he added the WPMF Flyweight title and multiple other championships to his collection.

"Without a doubt, Nadaka is one of the greatest pound-for-pound world champion strikers on the planet in any combat sport," ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong declared when signing the Japanese star to a full-time contract. But Chatri also issued a warning: "Nadaka is jumping into an ocean of great white sharks. It will be interesting to see how he adapts as he takes the biggest step up of his entire career." The ONE Championship presented a different challenge than the traditional stadium circuit. The promotion uses four-ounce gloves instead of the standard eight or 10-ounce gloves used in traditional Muay Thai, amplifying the power of every strike. The fights take place in a cage-like Circle rather than a traditional ring, changing the geometry of movement and eliminating the rope-based strategies fighters sometimes employ. Most significantly, ONE represents the pinnacle of global martial arts competition, where the best strikers from across the world converge.

For Nadaka, it represented the final frontier—the one major championship that had eluded him despite his collection of nine world titles from other organizations. "In view of this context and trajectory of my career, I tried to set new goals and ONE Championship really stood out," Nadaka explained. "It's a top-tier organization where the best stand-up fighters and MMA fighters from around the world compete. I feel it's the perfect stage for me to prove my skills I've cultivated so far." His ONE debut on March 23, 2025, at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang in Tokyo's Saitama Super Arena, was emphatic. Fighting in front of a raucous hometown crowd, Nadaka faced Thailand's Rak Erawan and demonstrated that the smaller gloves and different environment posed no problem. He stopped Rak with a third-round TKO, a left straight punch finding its mark and ending the contest decisively.

Two months later at ONE Friday Fights 114, Nadaka returned to face Thailand's Banluelok Sitwatcharachai, a dangerous striker with three consecutive knockout wins in ONE. The Japanese champion was a heavy favorite, and he fought like it, outstriking Banluelok over three rounds to earn a unanimous decision and run his streak to 41 fights. A month after that, at ONE Friday Fights 122 in June, Nadaka faced Hamada "Black Panther" Azmadi and delivered another knockout, this time in the second round. Three fights, three wins, 42 consecutive victories. The streak was intact, and momentum was building toward something bigger.

By the time ONE Championship announced the creation of an inaugural Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship, there was little question who would contest it. Nadaka, with his perfect 3-0 record in the promotion and his sterling resume, was the obvious choice. His opponent would be Numsurin Chor Ketwina, a technically gifted Thai fighter who had been unbeaten inside the ONE Circle with a 6-0 record at ONE Friday Fights. Numsurin had earned his title shot by handing the surging Songchainoi Kiatsongrit his first defeat, using superior technical skill to outpoint the previously unbeaten prospect. "He's a worthy opponent, and I'll give my very best to win," Nadaka said of Numsurin in the lead-up to the fight. "Numsurin obviously boasts high-level mastery of Muay Thai fundamentals, which is why he keeps winning."

The fight was scheduled for November 16, 2025, at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri, in Tokyo's Ariake Arena. For Nadaka, the significance of competing for a world title in his home country, in front of Japanese fans who had supported him throughout his career, added extra weight to an already monumental occasion. "I expect it to be a tough fight," Nadaka acknowledged before the bout. But there was also confidence born of preparation and self-knowledge. "I strongly feel I need to show my own unique Muay Thai that won't lose in excitement compared to his fight. And I want to win and pass the baton to the seniors who are already wearing ONE belts."

When fight night arrived, Nadaka delivered a performance that will be remembered as one of the finest of his career. From the opening bell, he controlled the narrative. Using his signature feints and movement, he lured Numsurin into exchanges and countered with devastating accuracy. A sharp left straight late in round one—his calling card strike—set the tone for what was to come. Numsurin, to his credit, didn't fold. The Thai fighter tapped into his experience in round two, attacking with punches and landing a significant overhand right that momentarily shifted momentum. But Nadaka's evasiveness and ring generalship allowed him to weather the storm and reassert control. He slipped laterally after landing counters, staying out of range of Numsurin's follow-up attacks. His defense was as impressive as his offense.

As the rounds progressed, Nadaka's superiority became undeniable. He mixed up his attacks, utilizing the full arsenal of eight limbs—punches, kicks, elbows, and knees—in combinations that kept Numsurin guessing. When the final bell sounded after five rounds of high-level technical warfare, there was no doubt about the outcome. All three judges scored the bout for Nadaka Yoshinari. He had done it: at 24 years old, he became the inaugural ONE Championship Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion, the first Japanese fighter to win ONE Muay Thai gold, and extended his winning streak to an almost unfathomable 40 consecutive victories.

As the belt was wrapped around his waist and his hand raised in victory, the Ariake Arena erupted. For Japanese Muay Thai, it was a watershed moment. For Nadaka personally, it was validation—proof that all those early morning training sessions, all those viewings of fight footage, all those years of dedication to mastering every facet of "the art of eight limbs" had been worth it. "That wasn't just another belt for his collection; it was a coronation," ONE Championship's post-fight coverage noted. "It solidified his place as a global superstar and a trailblazer for Japanese and international Muay Thai."

At 24, with a record of 66-6 and 40 consecutive wins, Nadaka Yoshinari stands at an interesting crossroads. He has already accomplished more than most fighters achieve in entire careers. He is the only foreign fighter to win three Rajadamnern Stadium titles across different weight divisions. He is one of only two non-Thai fighters to hold both Lumpinee and Rajadamnern championship gold. He has won 10 world titles across five different weight classes. He is now the ONE Championship Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion. By any measure, his legacy is secure.

He has earned his place among the greatest non-Thai Muay Thai fighters in history—and indeed, among the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of his generation regardless of nationality. The Thai media's adoption of him as one of their own, symbolized by nicknames like "Muay Thai Monster" and "Genius Muay Thai Boy," represents perhaps the highest form of recognition a foreign fighter can receive.

Yet for Nadaka, the journey is far from over. Following his title victory at ONE 173, he has already expressed his intentions to defend his championship multiple times before potentially transitioning to kickboxing and exploring new challenges. The bantamweight division beckons as a potential destination for future campaigns. There is also the tantalizing possibility of superfights against other elite ONE Championship strikers.

More broadly, Nadaka represents something significant for the globalization of Muay Thai. For decades, the sport has been dominated by its Thai practitioners, with only occasional foreign champions breaking through. Fighters like Ramon Dekkers, Ernesto Hoost, and more recently Youssef Boughanem and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong have shown that non-Thais can compete at the highest levels. But few have done so with the sustained excellence and comprehensive mastery that Nadaka has displayed.

His success has implications beyond his own career. Every young Japanese—or Chinese, or American, or European—fighter who dreams of Muay Thai glory can look to Nadaka as proof that with the right training, dedication, and approach, the highest levels of the sport are accessible. Eiwa Sports Gym, where Nadaka trained under Professor Khundong Por Thawatchai, has become a model for how Japanese gyms can incorporate authentic Thai instruction while respecting Japanese training culture. The Thai media's recognition of Eiwa's fighters as "high-level athletes, up to the Thai champions in the field of Muay Thai" represents a significant endorsement of this approach.

As he now trains under former ring star Pakorn Sakyothin (himself a Lumpinee Champion, Rajadamnern Champion, and WMC World Champion who was named Best Boxer of the Year 2013 by the Sports Authority of Thailand), Nadaka continues to evolve and refine his craft. The perfectionist pursuit of complete mastery that has characterized his career shows no signs of waning.

In interviews, Nadaka has been refreshingly candid about his motivations and future plans. "As for my next challenge, winning the ONE belt would be a huge asset for me personally," he said before capturing the title. Now that he has achieved that goal, new horizons beckon. There is his expressed desire to defend the atomweight title multiple times, cementing his status as the division's dominant champion. There are potential rematches with past opponents or fresh challenges from contenders in the weight class. Beyond that, his comments about eventually transitioning to kickboxing suggest ambitions to test his skills in a slightly different ruleset against a different style of competition.

What seems certain is that Nadaka will continue approaching each challenge with the same meticulous preparation and technical excellence that has defined his career. His training philosophy—studying film obsessively, seeking instruction from the best coaches, incorporating new techniques from different striking arts—ensures he will continue evolving as a fighter even as he accumulates victories. "I also want to be more active on the world stage," Nadaka told Ernesto Hoost during their training session, expressing a desire to expand his horizons beyond Japan and Thailand. With ONE Championship providing a global platform and his reputation now firmly established, that international stage is his for the taking.

For fans of high-level striking, Nadaka Yoshinari represents something increasingly rare in modern combat sports: a pure technician who has mastered every aspect of his craft, a fighter who wins through skill rather than size or power alone, a practitioner who respects tradition while innovating within it. In an era where many young fighters rush to mixed martial arts or focus on highlight-reel knockouts, Nadaka has committed himself to perfecting "the art of eight limbs" in its truest form.

"My ideal fighting style is one where I can do everything," he once said. At 24, with 40 consecutive wins and a ONE Championship belt around his waist, he has come remarkably close to realizing that ideal. The samurai who conquered the kingdom has written his name in combat sports history. But as his career continues, the most exciting chapters may still lie ahead.