In 2024, One Championship decided to restart the “counting” series, with the focus of MMA matches at high level. One 165 is one of such events, where One Championship decides to return to Japan. They expect this country to become a new capital of One.
One of the matches added by One Championship to One 165 event is the competition between Yoshihiro Akiyama and Nieky Holzken. In this match, Akiyama has an advantage when the organizers let the two fighters follow the MMA law. Japanese boxers have a knack for MMA, and Holzken is strong about Kickboxing.
However, to ensure the fairness of the match between Yoshihiro Akiyama and Nieky Holzken, the Organizing Committee of ONE Championship decided to apply special law. Both will fight with 4-speed MMA gloves. The match lasted 3 rounds: The first half applied Boxing Law, 2nd half of the Muay Law, the third half of the MMA law.
Akiyama has now turned 48, but the home advantage and the special law applies to this match so he can aim for a victory. The last time Akiyama Thuong Dai took place two years ago, when he defeated his compatriot Shinya Aoki at ONE-X event of One-X ONE Championship.
Shinya Aoki will also play at One 165. His opponent is Sage Northcutt, former UFC boxer. The other special matches of One 165 took place between Marat Grigorian and Sitthichai Sitsonpeenong (Kickboxing, copper cables) and Iraj AzizPor encountered Opacic Rade (Heavyweight Kickboxing).