RESULTS ONE SAMURAI 4: Haggerty stops Akimoto in round three to retain kickboxing title

Jonathan Haggerty did not have an easy night in Tokyo, but he made it end quickly. Hiroki Akimoto, a former titleholder fighting at home, hurt him with hooks in round one and caught him with a superman punch in round two. Then Haggerty took over in round three, dropping Akimoto with a right hand and a knee before a closing burst brought the stoppage at 42 seconds.

The result keeps the 29-year-old Londoner's kickboxing record perfect at 4-0 and moves his overall record to 25-5. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong added a US$100,000 performance bonus. Haggerty is also a former two-division ONE Muay Thai world champion, which makes his kickboxing run a notable second act.

Jonathan Di Bella, ONE's strawweight kickboxing champion, was watching. According to ONE Championship, he expected Haggerty to win but not like that. "He made it look easy in Tokyo," Di Bella said, adding that Akimoto was at his best when he was champion but that Haggerty now has the momentum.

Di Bella went further, saying he has seen Haggerty look better as a kickboxer than in Muay Thai, even though Muay Thai is Haggerty's first love. His advice: stay in the kickboxing division.

Di Bella has his own business ahead. The 30-year-old moved from interim to undisputed champion last year and beat Zhang Peimian at The Inner Circle 22 in July for his fourth straight win. Wang Junguang has since called for a shot at the title after his split-decision upset of Prajanchai Pongsuphan PK at The Inner Circle 35. Di Bella says he is ready.

What to watch next: whether ONE books Di Bella vs Wang, and who gets the next shot at Haggerty's bantamweight belt.