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Rizin FF
Martial ArtsMixed Martial Arts

Rizin 26: Tenshin Nasukawa sets up Takeru Segawa dream fight – ‘let’s make martial arts exciting together’

  • Japan’s 22-year-old kick-boxing phenom gets comfortable decision over Kumandoi Petcharoenvit at Saitama Super Arena
  • The equally sensational Segawa watches on from ringside with Rizin likely to target match-up for Tokyo Dome debut in March

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Tenshin Nasukawa embraces Takeru Segawa at Rizin 26. Photos: Rizin FF
Drake Riggs

Rizin 26 has officially come and gone and with that came yet another flawless victory for Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year’s Eve at the Saitama Super Arena.

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Japan’s 22-year-old kick-boxing megastar stretched his professional record to 40-0 in Thursday evening’s co-main event with a unanimous decision against Thailand’s Kumandoi Petcharoenvit, a Muay Thai specialist with over 100 bouts to his name.

Despite his tender years, Nasukawa – who is also 4-0 in MMA – has looked simply unbeatable, with every fight expected to go in his favour, stylishly. The only blot on his copybook came out of his element in an exhibition boxing match with the legendary – and significantly larger – Floyd Mayweather on the same night two years ago.

So what next for Nasukawa? Who is left to conquer? Well, Rizin 26 left fans salivating at the prospect of a match they have dreamt of for years.

Tenshin Nasukawa punches Kumandoi Petcharoenvit.
Tenshin Nasukawa punches Kumandoi Petcharoenvit.
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Before the fighters’ entrance, the equally sensational Takeru Segawa came and sat ringside, to everyone’s surprise. Holding a 41-2 record, Segawa is firmly alongside Nasukawa as the best in Japan, and two of the best in the world.

For one reason or another, the pair have simply just never wound up managing to put the fight together over their many years dominating the sport. But now there’s been some hope provided in the closing hours of 2020.

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