Japanese martial artist Itsuki Hirata had a great start to her ONE Championship journey, winning four straight, including a hard-earned decision victory over American Alyse Anderson.

It took place at the historic all-women card ONE: Empower in September 2021 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Riding a three-fight winning streak then, ‘Android 18’ put out a gritty effort to edge Anderson in the end.

‘Lil Savage’ severely tested Hirata both on stand-up and the ground, but the latter proved to be up for the challenge. Banking on her judo background, the Serra-Longo Fight Team affiliate was able to stand toe-to-toe against her opponent.

The two atomweight fighters were still neck-and-neck hitting the final moments of the third and final round until Itsuki Hirata managed to execute a hip toss, which he she followed up with a ground-and-pound to leave an imprint on the judges and help her cause for the unanimous decision win.

ONE Championship spotlighted Hirata’s win over Anderson by sharing highlights of the fight on YouTube.

Check out the video below:

Following her victory over Anderson, Itsuki Hirata hit a rough patch, going 2-5 in her next seven matches. She, however, remains confident that she will get back to the swing of things and turn her fortunes around.

Itsuki Hirata battles Ritu Phogat at ONE SAMURAI 1

Itsuki Hirata returns to action later this month, taking on India’s Ritu Phogat in a battle of veteran ONE Championship campaigners.

The two are featured in an atomweight MMA clash at ONE SAMURAI 1 on April 29 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Both are looking to score a bounce-back victory after losing in their previous matches.

Hirata, 26, fell to fellow Japanese fighter Chihiro Sawada by unanimous decision in their clash at ONE 173 in November last year, cutting the momentum she built in her skid-busting victory three months prior.

Phogat, 31, for her part, is right smack in a three-fight skid, the most recent of her losses at the hands of Japanese Ayaka Miura at ONE 171: Qatar in February 2025. Before her last fight, ‘The Indian Tigress’ took a nearly three-year break to start a family.

ONE SAMURAI 1 is the debut event of ONE Championship’s new monthly fight series in Japan. Tickets for the event can be purchased at ePlus and Zaiko.