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Itsuki Hirata has found a home away from home in the United States.
In order to further her MMA development, the Japanese standout has been traveling to New York throughout her recent fight camps to train with some of the top coaches and sparring partners in the world.
Her training outside of her comfort zone has shown clear developments in her overall skill set, which she will need when she faces No.2-ranked atomweight contender Ham Seo Hee at ONE Fight Night 8 on March 24.
Whilst ‘Android 18’ is very grateful for the things she has learned from training at Longo-Weidman in 'The Big Apple', Hirata is hoping to experience more of the US soon, preferably somewhere warmer.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Itsuki Hirata said:
“I want to go to a warm place. Probably L.A.? I want to hang out there. Currently, I'm in the city area of New York, but I would like to go to the countryside too.”
Hirata isn’t the first fighter to travel to the United States to train with high-level coaches and training partners. She has already spoken about being surprised with the quality of training and competitors that are available on a day-to-day basis.
Itsuki Hirata regrets not making weight for first fight with Ham Seo Hee
At ONE Fight Night 8 on March 24, Itsuki Hirata will return to the circle to face-off against Ham Seo Hee in a fight with huge stakes at play in the atomweight division.
The two contenders were previously scheduled to meet at ONE 163 in November, but the fight was called off after Hirata missed weight and failed her hydration test. Whilst the fight was offered to her opponent at a catchweight limit, she declined, citing Hirata’s previous issues with making weight.
With the winner being lined up for a shot at Angela Lee’s atomweight world championship, the fight was rebooked and is finally here.
Whilst ‘Android 18’ is excited for the opportunity to prove a point both on the scale and inside the circle, she still has regrets about what happened last year. In an interview with ONE Championship, Itsuki Hirata said:
"If you ask me what happened, I think it's the same thing that everyone knows. Not being able to have the fight that everyone was looking forward to was the most regrettable thing. As for Ham Seo Hee declining to accept a catchweight fight, I didn't particularly have any thoughts about it."
Fans in North America can catch this atomweight clash and more at ONE Fight Night 8 live and for free via Prime Video with an active Amazon subscription.
