“My future was being tested” - Taiki Naito says he was in a do-or-die situation vs Johan Estupinan at ONE Fight Night 32
Japanese striker Taiki Naito couldn't have been more pleased to get his hand raised at ONE Fight Night 32 inside the Lumpinee Stadium after a string of bad results on the grandest stage of combat sports.
Naito emerged victorious via majority decision in his flyweight Muay Thai tiff against Johan Estupinan last Friday, June 7, for his eighth promotional win, and probably his most pivotal one yet.
"I was in two consecutive losses, and I also know that Estupinan has never lost in ONE Championship before. It was like my future was being tested with this fight, and I'm so glad, so happy that I could win the fight today," the No.3-ranked flyweight kickboxing contender told Nick Atkin during a post-fight exchange in Bangkok, Thailand.
Watch Taiki Naito's full interview here:
True enough, he was forced to push himself to the limit during fight camp and at several junctures of their three-round duel. Estupinan, who fights out of Team CSK and JCFernandez, came in guns blazing in search of taking his career to a flawless 28-0.
Naito, though, had other ideas as he sent the Colombian slugger down and connected with multiple weapons in his striking arsenal to secure his first win of 2025.
What next is still anyone's guess for the Bell Wood Fight Team representative. But if he has it his way, 'Silent Sniper' is chomping at the bit for a meteoric all-Japan tiff with one of the most decorated kickboxers next.
For now, fight fans in the United States and Canada can relive his epic performance at ONE Fight Night 32 on Amazon Prime Video. The full event replay is also available at watch.onefc.com.
Taiki Naito wants in on dream duel vs Takeru Segawa
Taiki Naito didn't waste time admitting who he wants next in ONE Championship. During the same interview with Atkin, the 29-year-old called out former three-division K-1 champion and ONE world title challenger Takeru Segawa for a flyweight kickboxing showdown.
"You know, today I fought in Muay Thai, but I usually also fight in kickboxing. And in ONE Championship in the ranking right now, number two is Takeru, and I'm the next. So I’d love to fight Takeru as my next opponent," the 29-year-old shared.
Taiki Naito's call for a matchup against 'Natural Born Krusher' makes thorough sense, after all.
The ONE veteran has his eyes locked on a rematch and a chance to claim world title glory against ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion 'The Kicking Machine' Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Plus, given his spot as the No.3-ranked contender in the division, and second-ranked Takeru in his way, their hypothetical showdown could have major world title implications for both men.