‘Lit An Even Bigger Fire’ – Hyu Eyes Redemption Against Hyuma Hitachi At ONE SAMURAI 3

Hyu “Mister Pepper” knows exactly what went wrong against Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito last April, and he has spent every waking day since making sure it never happens again.

The 23-year-old Japanese kickboxing phenom faces RISE Super Featherweight Champion Hyuma “Star Of The SHIBUYA” Hitachi in a flyweight kickboxing showdown at ONE SAMURAI 3 on Saturday, September 12, from Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama, Japan.
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A karate black belt who made the transition to kickboxing at 19, Hyu brings the discipline and exacting precision of his martial arts foundation to a striking game built around thunderous left kicks, piercing knees, and sharp boxing.

Since joining the world’s largest martial arts organization in 2024, the southpaw has stood as one of the most talked-about young fighters on the Japanese combat sports scene. His impressive 13-1 career slate and 5-1 ONE Championship record reflect a prodigious talent operating near its absolute ceiling.

Then came ONE SAMURAI 1, and a frustrating unanimous decision loss to seasoned striking veteran Naito that changed the conversation entirely.

The defeat arrived just six weeks after Hyu had bested Suablack Tor Pran49. While the quick turnaround sparked questions about fatigue and preparation, Hyu dismisses those excuses entirely. What went wrong this past April, he insists, was strictly internal, and that honest assessment only deepens the competitive fire behind his return.

“It came soon after the Suablack fight, but I wasn’t overconfident or unfocused. I was simply too fixated on getting the knockout. I thought, ‘Whatever he does, I’ll be fine,’ and I underestimated the possibility of Naito winning by accumulating points. In the end, it felt like the fight was over before I had even really fought.”

“It came soon after the Suablack fight, but I wasn’t overconfident or unfocused. I was simply too fixated on getting the knockout. I thought, ‘Whatever he does, I’ll be fine,’ and I underestimated the possibility of Naito winning by accumulating points. In the end, it felt like the fight was over before I had even really fought.”
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The loss exposed a minuscule gap between Hyu’s remarkable physical ability and the steady composure required to deploy it consistently over a full fight. For an athlete who prides himself on absolute competitive discipline, having that flaw exposed on the biggest stage of his career hit harder than any blemish on a record ever could.

The version of himself that walked out of ONE SAMURAI 1 is not the one returning to Yokohama.

“I believe it was a fight I would have been fine in if I had kept myself properly composed. What shocked me was making that mistake at this stage. For me, it’s less about the opponent and more about myself. I’m frustrated with the version of myself that couldn’t stay composed through the end of the fight, and now I have a strong desire to come back and prove something.”

“I believe it was a fight I would have been fine in if I had kept myself properly composed. What shocked me was making that mistake at this stage. For me, it’s less about the opponent and more about myself. I’m frustrated with the version of myself that couldn’t stay composed through the end of the fight, and now I have a strong desire to come back and prove something.”
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The immediate aftermath brought a wave of unfamiliar emotion that Hyu has been completely candid about. A fighter who rarely experienced defeat in his karate days, and who carried an almost unblemished record into ONE, found himself confronting a harsh reality he had not felt in years.

But alongside that sharp disappointment came something unexpected: a sweeping resurgence of the very competitive drive that pushed him through hundreds of grueling training hours before he ever set foot in a professional ring.

“Right after the fight, I hated the thought that Wikipedia and other places would now have ‘1 loss’ written next to my record. Even in my karate days, I rarely lost because someone was simply stronger than me, but there were times when I became too tense and an opponent used that kind of approach against me.

“My family and the people who have supported me for a long time probably think, ‘He’ll overcome this too.’ For me, that loss lit an even bigger fire. It brought back that serious competitive tension I used to feel in karate. I think I’ll be able to perform properly next time.”

“Right after the fight, I hated the thought that Wikipedia and other places would now have ‘1 loss’ written next to my record. Even in my karate days, I rarely lost because someone was simply stronger than me, but there were times when I became too tense and an opponent used that kind of approach against me.

“My family and the people who have supported me for a long time probably think, ‘He’ll overcome this too.’ For me, that loss lit an even bigger fire. It brought back that serious competitive tension I used to feel in karate. I think I’ll be able to perform properly next time.”
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When Hyu learned who his comeback opponent would be, the profound relief was immediate.

Hyuma Hitachi is a 28-year-old standout from Target Shibuya who carries a 15-6 professional record and the prestigious RISE Super Featherweight Championship. He made his pro kickboxing debut at 20, possesses one-punch knockout power in both hands, and has woven a spectacular flying crescent kick he calls the “Super Hitachi Kick” into his dangerous arsenal.

Hitachi’s ONE debut means he arrives with a massive point to prove and the high-level tools to be a threat from the opening bell. For a fighter needing a meaningful, high-stakes test upon his return, this represents exactly the right kind of opponent for “Mister Pepper.”

“My first reaction was, ‘Oh, I get to have a real fight again.’ Since it was a comeback fight, I thought they might give me someone with a losing record or an unfamiliar foreign opponent. Instead, it’s Hitachi, who just became the RISE champion. I was genuinely happy to get an opponent like that for my comeback.”

“My first reaction was, ‘Oh, I get to have a real fight again.’ Since it was a comeback fight, I thought they might give me someone with a losing record or an unfamiliar foreign opponent. Instead, it’s Hitachi, who just became the RISE champion. I was genuinely happy to get an opponent like that for my comeback.”
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The bitter lesson of the Naito fight has visibly sharpened Hyu’s approach to this upcoming collision. He knows “Star Of The SHIBUYA” will bring forward-marching aggression and heavy physicality, and he understands that getting pulled into his opponent’s rhythm at the wrong moment could prove disastrous.

His rigorous preparation has been built entirely around maintaining total control of his own emotions before attempting to control anything else. The prospect of dropping a second straight bout carries a very specific weight that Hyu has absolutely no intention of experiencing.

The Team Mehdi Zatout and TEAM3K star added:

“The biggest thing for me is to put aside everything that can be thought about after the fight and focus only on the fight itself. I’m confident that if I do that, I won’t lose. As for Hitachi, I expect him to make it a gritty fight, so I can’t let myself get dragged into his rhythm. But based on my experience winning through karate tournaments, I believe this is a fight I absolutely have to win.

“If I lose this one, I’ll honestly be shocked. You could call it aggressive versus aggressive, so losing in the area that is supposed to be my strength would be painful. That’s why I absolutely do not want to lose.”

“The biggest thing for me is to put aside everything that can be thought about after the fight and focus only on the fight itself. I’m confident that if I do that, I won’t lose. As for Hitachi, I expect him to make it a gritty fight, so I can’t let myself get dragged into his rhythm. But based on my experience winning through karate tournaments, I believe this is a fight I absolutely have to win.

“If I lose this one, I’ll honestly be shocked. You could call it aggressive versus aggressive, so losing in the area that is supposed to be my strength would be painful. That’s why I absolutely do not want to lose.”
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Hyu’s sweeping ambitions extend far beyond Saturday night in Yokohama. The rapid growth of ONE SAMURAI has completely transformed the landscape for Japanese fighters, opening up regular, high-profile opportunities to compete at home in front of a passionate domestic audience for a massive global fanbase.

For a rising star who signed with ONE expecting limited chances to compete in Japan, this systemic shift has been monumental. Hyu carries a clear sense of the pivotal role he wants to play in shaping what ONE SAMURAI eventually becomes.

“When I signed with ONE, I thought I probably wouldn’t have many chances to fight in Japan. Now that has completely changed, and there are more opportunities to compete here. I’m really happy about that.

“Recently, more martial arts fans have started talking about the ‘next generation,’ and I feel like I have to be one of the people leading ONE SAMURAI. This fight is another step toward that. ONE has given me a comeback fight against the RISE champion, and I see it as an opportunity I absolutely have to seize. I want to get through this and take on many big fights at ONE SAMURAI.”

“When I signed with ONE, I thought I probably wouldn’t have many chances to fight in Japan. Now that has completely changed, and there are more opportunities to compete here. I’m really happy about that.

“Recently, more martial arts fans have started talking about the ‘next generation,’ and I feel like I have to be one of the people leading ONE SAMURAI. This fight is another step toward that. ONE has given me a comeback fight against the RISE champion, and I see it as an opportunity I absolutely have to seize. I want to get through this and take on many big fights at ONE SAMURAI.”
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With his next fight just around the bend, Hyu’s attention has already begun drifting toward the blockbuster matchups waiting on the other side of Saturday night.

ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Di Bella has been heavily linked to a move to flyweight, and Naito remains prominent unfinished business. Both represent massive names that Hyu has started to consider seriously, and his ultimate ambition remains remarkably clear.

“I wasn’t particularly interested in Di Bella before. But since there has been talk of him moving up to flyweight, I’ve become a little more interested recently. My goal is to keep beating the fighters who are in the title picture.

“Personally, even if Di Bella and Naito fought, I think it would be a difficult fight to separate. So I do have the feeling that I’d like to face one of them first.”

“I wasn’t particularly interested in Di Bella before. But since there has been talk of him moving up to flyweight, I’ve become a little more interested recently. My goal is to keep beating the fighters who are in the title picture.

“Personally, even if Di Bella and Naito fought, I think it would be a difficult fight to separate. So I do have the feeling that I’d like to face one of them first.”
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