ONE Championship: Itsuki Hirata shakes off knockdown to light up atomweight grand prix
- Rising Japanese star shows off her power and her poise to defeat American Alyse Anderson art ONE: Empower
- Third-round scare not enough to sway judges as Hirata moves closer to a date with Angela Lee
ONE Championship have been building up Itsuki Hirata as a future superstar and there was more evidence on Friday night that they’re on to a good thing.
The precocious Japanese atomweight shook off a knockdown to take a unanimous decision over American Alyse Anderson at ONE: Empower in Singapore.
“To be honest I still have a lot to do so I am not super impressed by myself but a win is a win,” Hirata said after the fight.
It was a win that wasn’t completely comprehensive, as a huge right from Anderson had the Japanese fighter on her back midway through the third, catching Hirata as she came in looking for another takedown.
But there was a shake of the head and Hirata was back on her feet – and she saw the fight out safely to the finish.
“Actually it wasn’t the first time I have been punched in my face,” Hirata said of the knockdown. “I didn’t really go down or anything, I just saw the ceiling and I wasn’t dizzy or anything.