KEY POINTS

  • ONE X will feature the return of Itsuki Hirata and the debut of Brazilian jiu-jitsu prodigy Danielle Kelly
  • It's Hirata's first fight since September 2021 when she won against Alyse Anderson
  • Kelly gets to face MMA veteran Mei Yamaguchi in a grappling match

March 26 is set to be ONE Championship’s biggest card yet as it celebrates a decade of combat sports action, and the promotion has decided to add two more must-watch mixed martial arts (MMA) fights for the event.

ONE women’s atomweight phenom Itsuki Hirata is set to take on Jihin Radzuan in a bout that could break either one of them in the Top Five of the division.

MMA fans had been eagerly waiting for Hirata’s opponent after announcing via Instagram that she would be making her comeback on March 26.

Hirata is currently carrying an unblemished record of five wins with four finishes (two by KO, two by submission) and was supposed to face Indian wrestler Ritu Phogat in the semifinals of the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix at ONE: NextGen in late October 2021.

However, the 22-year-old from Tokyo, Japan had to pull out of the fight due to a high fever and has not been booked to face anyone since that time.

As for Radzuan, she is coming off an impressive victory over Mei Yamaguchi at ONE: Bad Blood last February 11, showing off her full arsenal against the Japanese veteran after her original opponent, Jenelyn Olsim, withdrew due to injury.

Both Radzuan and Hirata will look to get the win over the other as they aim for a spot in the Top Five.

The other match announced for ONE X is that of Brazilian jiu-jitsu star Danielle Kelly taking on Yamaguchi in a submission grappling match.

Kelly herself announced that she had signed with ONE Championship in mid-February as she works her way from competing in grappling matches to MMA bouts.

The 25-year-old from the United States has quite the experience in grappling, facing off against the likes of UFC veterans like Carla Esparza and Roxanne Modafferi.

Drawing Yamaguchi as her first opponent in ONE Championship, Kelly has an opportunity to prove that she belongs in the promotion.

As for Yamaguchi, she is currently riding a three-fight losing streak in MMA bouts, with her last loss being to the aforementioned Radzuan.

The 39-year-old will get to experience her first victory in nearly three years if she is able to stop the prodigy that is Kelly when they meet at ONE X.

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