BUZZ Nasukawa feels 'looked down on' by Nadaka ahead of ONE SAMURAI 5 bout with Jamali

Ryushin Nasukawa has a rival in mind beyond the man in front of him. At an open workout at his gym in Matsudo, Chiba, on Oct. 29, the TEAM TEPPEN fighter said he senses that Nadaka Yoshinari does not take him seriously, and that it bothers him.

The subject came up because ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong has said he wants to book the two for a kickboxing world title fight at some point. Nasukawa said he does not know how that will go, but feels slighted. "I get the impression I'm not on his radar," he said, as translated. He added that being told Nadaka is stronger annoys him, and that beating him would let him call himself number one. Asked about Muay Thai rules, he was lukewarm but said he would think about it. Nothing is booked.

First comes Mahdi Jamali of Morocco, whom Nasukawa meets in a three-round strawweight (56.7 kg) kickboxing bout at ONE SAMURAI 5 on Nov. 18 at EBARA WAVE Arena Ota in Tokyo. Nasukawa normally fights at 53 kg and called Jamali big and dangerous with one-punch power. He noted that Jamali has lost to top names but knocked out Tonpoon, the man Nasukawa stopped in his ONE debut. He sees the fight as a test of where he stands at strawweight.

It will be his sixth fight of the year, and he admitted the load has brought fatigue, though he says he feels good and sharp. He said he is not worried about the hydration test, having done one before, but is wary given how often ONE SAMURAI bouts fall through.

His longer-term aim is a ONE belt. He said he would like a kickboxing title created at 52.2 kg, and would fight at 56.7 kg if not. He also said he has done what he can at 53 kg in RISE, and wants to show a different side of himself in ONE than his brother Tenshin has. He joked about going after the 15 million yen performance bonus.

Watch for the Jamali fight and the weigh-ins first. A strong finish would give him a stronger case for the Nadaka matchup he is hinting at.