Former K-1 Super Lightweight champion Rukiya Anpo looks poised to make the jump from RIZIN to ONE Championship just three weeks after his draw with Manny Pacquiao.
Anpo, 28, joined RIZIN in 2023 and drew with Thai great Buakaw Banchamek in his debut in June before besting Sho Patrick Usami by decision in September.
In his MMA debut, the Demolition Man was submitted by fellow former K-1 champion Yuta Kubo on New Years Eve before he earned a respectable draw with RIZIN debutant Pacquiao, 45, in a boxing exhibition bout which was fought under special standing rules.
The sought after Himeji native, who was touted for a fight against disgraced boxer Ryan Garcia during the Super Rizin 3 aftermath, posted a picture of a ONE Championship world title on Sunday.
Fan favourite Anpo, who has a amassed 699,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, also added the phrase ‘ONE OF A KIND’ to his bio on X.
His title photo tweet has received 181 replies at the time of publication with fans anxious to receive confirmation on his fighting future.
Anpo is yet to be added to ONE’s list of fighters on their website and the organisation has not made any comment on whether they're close to signing the J-Kick star.
ONE has actively pursued Japan’s top kickboxers and added Anpo’s countryman Takeru to their roster last year.
Takeru is due to face the Black Panther at ONE FRIDAY NIGHTS 81 on 27 September in Bangkok, Thailand.
Former two-division K-1 Champion Masaaki Noiri joined ONE in April after leaving K-1.
Noiri, who lost his ONE debut to Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong by deicision in June, defeated Anpo in the K-1 World GP Welterweight Tournament Final in 2021 after knocking down his opponent three times.
Anpo has been called out by former K-1 star Minoru Kimura but the Japanese fighter said that Brazil-born Kimura should first face a veteran heavyweight in Breaking Down such as 51-year-old Jerome LeBanner. This follow's Anpo's win over French heavyweight stalwart Cyril Abidi by stoppage at Breaking Down 7 last year.
Stay tuned to AsiaFighting.com and our social media channels for more on this developing story
Fight pictures courtesy of RIZIN FF
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