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Itsuki Hirata posed for a selfie showcasing her abs ahead of the ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video weigh-ins.
Hirata has a statement to make this week before stepping into the circle. ‘Android 18’ was supposed to fight Ham Seo Hee in November. She missed weight and failed hydration, leading to the matchup being rescheduled for ONE Fight Night 8.
With only several days before weighing in, the Japanese-born fighter showed off her abs on Instagram, with the caption saying:
“..shape up🃏”
Hirata made her promotional debut in June 2019. She won her first four fights, three inside the distance, solidifying herself as a legitimate title contender.
In March 2022, the Japanese-born fighter suffered her first professional MMA loss against Jihin Radzuan at ONE X. ‘Android 18’ bounced back in August 2022, defeating Lin Heqin by unanimous decision.
The 23-year-old has a tough challenge waiting at ONE Fight Night 8. Ham found success in the UFC and RIZIN before joining ONE in 2021. ‘Hamzzang’ defeated Denice Zamboanga by split decision and then silenced the doubters by taking out Zamboanga again in March 2022. She now looks to potentially earn a women’s atomweight title shot with a win against Hirata.
Take a look at Itsuki Hirata's Instagram post below:
Itsuki Hirata expresses her disappointment for missing weight in November
Itsuki Hirata received backlash for missing weight in November, causing her fight against Ham Seo Hee to be postponed.
Disappointing fans is tough to overcome for a young, beloved fighter. During an interview with ONE Championship, Hirata had this to say about the situation:
"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."
Hirata has an opportunity to silence the doubters at ONE Fight Night 8. If ‘Android 18’ can defeat Ham, the 23-year-old could find herself fighting for the atomweight world championship next time out. Before locking in for the fight, she needs to make weight and pass the hydration test.
ONE Fight Night 8 can be seen live and for free by North American viewers with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.
