ONE Championship: “I was having nightmares about being knocked out”

Japanese kickboxing icon Takeru Segawa retires as the interim ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion.

‘Natural Born Krusher’ ended his decorated career on the highest possible note at ONE SAMURAI 1. He stopped rival Rodtang ‘The Iron Man’ Jitmuangnon via TKO in Round 5 in the main event of the massive spectacle at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Wednesday, April 29.

But behind the triumphant performance was a fighter gripped by fear.

Takeru had carried a heavy psychological weight into the rematch. At ONE 172 last year, Rodtang had knocked him out in just 80 seconds. The painful memory lingered long after the bruises healed.

Speaking to ONE Championship after the fight, Takeru revealed the full extent of what he had been quietly enduring:

“Honestly, it hasn’t really sunk in yet because I haven’t watched my fight. I didn’t want to show weakness before the fight, so I kept quiet, but every day I was having nightmares about being knocked out, losing consciousness, or breaking my leg.”

The Team Vasileus leader continued:

“I was terrified of disappointing everyone’s expectations. So right now, my overriding feeling is just, ‘I’m glad I came back alive.'”

Takeru is the perfect example of soldiering on and fighting despite feeling fear. The Japanese legend retired with a 46-5 record and a world title around his waist.

ONE SAMURAI 1 is available on replay for those who purchased the pay-per-view at live.onefc.com.

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ONE SAMURAI 1 full results

Takeru Segawa def. Rodtang Jitmuangnon via TKO (Interim flyweight kickboxing world championship)

Avazbek Kholmirzaev def. Yuya Wakamatsu via knockout (Flyweight MMA world championship)

Nadaka Yoshinari def. Songchainoi Kiatsongrit via unanimous decision (Atomweight Muay Thai world championship)

Jonathan Haggerty def. Yuki Yoza via unanimous decision (Bantamweight kickboxing world championship)

Marat Grigorian def. Kaito via knockout (Featherweight kickboxing)

Chihiro Sawada def. Ayaka Miura via submission (armbar) (Atomweight MMA)

Hiroki Akimoto def. Taimu Hisai via split decision (Bantamweight kickboxing)

Hiromi Wajima def. Ricardo Bravo via unanimous decision (Featherweight kickboxing)

Itsuki Hirata def. Ritu Phogat via submission (rear-naked choke) (Atomweight MMA)

Tatsumitsu Wada def. Seiichiro Ito via split decision (Flyweight MMA)

Keito Yamakita def. Ryohei Kurosawa via submission (armbar) (Strawweight MMA)

Shimon Yoshinari def. Johan Ghazali via unanimous decision (Flyweight Muay Thai)

Toki Tamaru def. Toma Kuroda via unanimous decision (Strawweight kickboxing)

Taiki Naito def. Hyu via unanimous decision (Flyweight kickboxing)

Kanata Nagai def. Atsubo Kambe via unanimous decision (Bantamweight MMA)