![Itsuki Hirata [Photo Credit: ONE Championship]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/10/8df64-16671073380973-1920.jpg)
![Itsuki Hirata [Photo Credit: ONE Championship]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After suffering her first setback at ONE: X in March, 23-year-old star Itsuki Hirata is ready to resume her ascent to the top of the atomweight division on November 19th. On that date, ‘Android 18’ will step back into the Circle against her toughest opponent yet in No. 2 ranked contender Ham Seo Hee.
Just weeks out from her return to the Circle, ONE Championship shared a clip with fans on Instagram of Hirata showing off her significantly improved boxing skills heading into her ONE 163 contest.
Fans shared their enthusiasm over Hirata’s striking skills, saying:
“Hirata ready to fight🔥🔥🔥”
“Champion business only!!! 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 @_itsuki_h_”
“Awesome hits 🔥🔥”
“I love you itsuki 😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️”
Following a split-decision loss to Jihin Radzuan, Itsuki Hirata knew she had to put more work into her stand-up game. Traveling from Japan to New York, ‘Android 18’ worked tirelessly to improve her boxing. The effort paid off as Hirata returned at ONE on Prime Video 1, scoring an impressive victory over Lin Heqin.
Hirata will attempt to build on that momentum on November 19th when she faces South Korea’s Ham Seo Hee.
Itsuki Hirata takes great pride in being part of Japanese MMA history
ONE 163 will feature a stacked lineup of talent representing their home country of Japan, including Shinya Aoki, Yuya Wakamatsu, Yushin ‘Thunder’ Okami, and Itsuki Hirata herself.
Representing her home is a point of pride for the young atomweight standout. In an interview with ONE Championship, ‘Android 18’ shared her excitement to be a part of Japanese MMA history, saying:
“I feel like I am already a major part of the history of Japanese MMA. There’s no other fighter right now walking the same path as me. I feel like I am a unique and special kind of fighter. There’s a lot of people following my career, and that’s why I do my best day in and day out to be the fighter that people expect me to be. I just want to entertain the fans.”
With a win on November 19th over No. 2 ranked contender Ham Seo Hee, Itsuki Hirata could find herself within earshot of a ONE world title opportunity against the reigning atomweight queen, Angela Lee.
Watch her highlight reel below:
