“I’ve incorporated some new elements” - Taiki Naito says training never stopped for him ahead of ONE Fight Night 32 return

Taiki Naito is a tireless worker who never stops working on his craft.

After mostly competing in Muay Thai, the third-ranked flyweight kickboxing contender went on to defend his position in 2024. Unfortunately, he lost two of his three fights.

The Japanese striker now shifts back to Muay Thai in his return on Friday, June 6, at ONE Fight Night 32. Naito has been matched up against an undefeated 22-year-old prospect, Johan Estupinan.

While speaking to ONE, Naito had this to say about evolving in training since his last fight against Mahmoudi:

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"I’ve been training during this time, and I’ve incorporated some new elements since my last loss.”

Johan Estupinan vs. Taiki Naito will be one of three flyweight Muay Thai bouts at ONE Fight Night 32. The other two are Johan Ghazali vs. Diego Paez and Nakrob Fairtex vs. Jaosuayai (main event).

ONE Fight Night 32 will take place inside the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Friday's event can be seen live and for free by North American and Canadian viewers with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Taiki Naito plans to become first fighter to knock out Johan Estupinan

Johan Estupinan has fought in ONE Championship five times, all wins, including three by knockout. The 22-year-old Colombian striker is widely considered a future title contender in the ONE flyweight Muay Thai division.

Taiki Naito is tasked with slowing down Estupinan's momentum. During an interview with the promotion, the Japanese striker had this to say about potentially being the first fighter to defeat 'Panda Kick':

“The public evaluation probably favors my opponent, but because he’s that kind of opponent, I really want to get a KO this time. Not just win, but knock him out.”

Taiki Naito's last two fights were in kickboxing, but he has plenty of ONE experience in Muay Thai. The 29-year-old holds a promotional record of 5-4 in the sport, with his losses against world-class competition: Jonathan Haggerty, Superlek, Kongthoranee, and Dedduanglek.

Meanwhile, Johan Estupinan plans to take another step toward a flyweight Muay Thai title shot. The Colombian striker will also keep an eye on his previous opponent, Johan Ghazali, who fights on the same night and could be lining up for a rematch.

About the author

Jake Foley is a journalist at Sportskeeda, specializing in covering all forms of combat sports, including MMA, Boxing, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. His passion is ignited by the exceptional fusion of physical and mental skills demanded by world-class fighters in these sports. Jake is captivated by the intricate mix of fierce determination and a modest mindset exhibited by athletes in these disciplines. He also finds the atmosphere of major championships, like the epic clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, truly unparalleled.

Jake has earned his UFC credentials to cover the major events for Sportskeeda and has conducted several interviews.

Jake supports various teams across several professional sports, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Inter Miami, Norwich City, Miami Marlins, and Las Vegas Golden Knights. The sports moment Jake will never forget is Jon Jones dismantling Vladimir Matyushenko.

Since joining the SportsKeeda team, Jake has written 400 articles covering several MMA promotions, including the UFC and ONE Championship. He continues to work hard to maintain his journalistic integrity and tell the stories of fighters worldwide.

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Edited by C. Naik