ONE Championship

A five-fight knockout spree came to an abrupt halt earlier this year, and the Japanese star wants that chapter closed for good.

Hyu faces ONE Championship newcomer Hyuma Hitachi in a flyweight kickboxing matchup at ONE SAMURAI 3, touching down at Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama, Japan, on Saturday, September 12. The 23-year-old opened his ONE Championship run with five straight wins, four by knockout over Leandro Miranda, Zakaria El Jamari, Jordan Estupinan, and Suablack Tor Pran49, before countryman Taiki Naito handed him his first professional loss in a three-round battle at ONE SAMURAI 1.

Hitachi enters his own promotional debut with a reputation built on relentless boxing combinations, a discipline he added specifically to sharpen his kickboxing background. A knockout of Yuki Kasahara stands as the clearest example of what that combination produces against live competition.

Hyu faces contrasting styles puzzle

Hyu's improvisational, angle-based approach sets up a genuine clash of philosophies against a fighter who prefers closing distance immediately and imposing his hands from the opening exchange.

The Yokohama Buntai crowd will get a direct answer to how Hyu responds to adversity for the first time in his career, with his previously unblemished ONE record now carrying an asterisk he is eager to erase.

The bout joins a stacked ONE SAMURAI 3 card that also features reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka making his kickboxing debut, along with a flyweight Muay Thai showdown between Shimon Yoshinari and Suablack Tor Pran49, giving Yokohama a full night of high-level Japanese and international talent.

Neither man has faced the other before, leaving both camps to prepare largely off reputation and available footage rather than any shared history to lean on heading into their September 12 meeting.

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Zuffa LLC

Islam Makhachev thinks that Michael Morales is skilled, but he isn't impressed with the activity level.

Makhachev is coming off a historic win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 this past Saturday in Philadelphia. He broke the record previously held by Anderson Silva for the most consecutive wins in UFC history (17). While Makhachev didn't exactly cruise his way to victory, he was in control more often than not on his way to a unanimous decision.

Now that UFC 330 has wrapped up, the question becomes who is next for the No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter? Makhachev was asked who he thinks is most deserving of the opportunity during the Paramount+ post-fight show. The elite titleholder believes that while Morales could be an intriguing challenger, he feels the rising Ecuadorian star needs to be more active before getting a shot.

“Honestly, if you ask me today, Shavkat [Rakhmonov] is not fighting,†Makhachev said. “[Carlos] Prates still fighting, still active. Maybe Prates because Morales also is good, but Morales fight I don't know last time. I don't remember when he fight, you know? If you ask who's the most deserving guy, I think Carlos Prates.â€

Morales and Prates were both in attendance for UFC 330 inside Xfinity Mobile Arena. Morales even had a backstage run-in with Ian Machado Garry, although things were cordial despite some back-and-forth words. If Prates ends up getting the next welterweight title shot, it could leave the door open for Morales to fight someone like Garry or another top contender.

In his last outing back in Nov. 2025, Morales scored a first-round TKO finish over Sean Brady. At the time, Brady was widely considered a credible threat at 170 pounds. Whether or not that win will be enough to carry Morales to a showdown with Makhachev remains to be seen.

Do you agree with Islam Makhachev's stance on Michael Morales' contender status, or do you feel Morales has done enough to get the title shot? Sound off in the comments below.

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Zuffa LLC

Carlos Prates is warning Islam Makhachev that he fully intends to deliver a scintillating performance if he gets the next UFC welterweight title shot.

Makhachev made history this past Saturday in his first defense of the 170-pound gold. The pound-for-pound great broke Anderson Silva's record for the most consecutive wins in UFC history at 17. Makhachev thwarted the challenge of Ian Machado Garry in the UFC 330 main event, earning a unanimous decision.

Prates was inside Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia to witness Makhachev's victory, and he thinks he will be the No. 1 contender. If that is the case, “The Nightmare†is predicting a knockout win. Pedro Baptista posted a clip of Prates firing a warning shot at the welterweight king.

“I will knock you out, bro,†Prates said. “I will bring that belt to Brazil. The first welterweight champ from Brazil.â€

Prates is riding a three-fight winning streak with finishes over some key names. In his most recent outing, the Brazilian bruiser stopped former UFC welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena. Prior to that, he had knockouts over ex-UFC champion Leon Edwards and Geoff Neal.

In his last 15 fights, Prates has gone 14-1. The lone defeat was against Ian Machado Garry in a bout that nearly saw “The Nightmare†pull off a come-from-behind win.

Makhachev is vowing to return to the Octagon before Ramadan. If it takes until January 2027 for the 170-pound champion to fight again, then Prates may need to fight one more time before getting a crack at UFC gold. Of course, he could also wait if the UFC brass feel he is the unquestioned No. 1 contender.

Another name that has been looming in the title conversation is Michael Morales. The surging Ecuadorian was also in attendance for UFC 330, and he has been calling for a championship fight. Some have suggested that Morales and Prates should fight with a shot at UFC gold at stake. Whether or not the stars align for such a matchup remains to be seen.

Do you believe Carlos Prates could pull off a shocker against Islam Makhachev? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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