Itsuki “Android 18” Hirata is ready to remind the world who she is. The 26-year-old Japanese judoka faces Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat in an atomweight MMA clash at ONE SAMURAI 1 on Wednesday, April 29, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Hirata’s career has taken a winding road since her electrifying start in ONE Championship. She won six of her first seven bouts and announced herself as one of the division’s most dangerous grapplers.
What followed was a difficult stretch that stripped her of her confidence — four losses in five outings — and pushed her to a breaking point she has since been willing to confront with striking honesty.
“There was a time when I stopped training and stepped away from fighting for a while. Back then, I kept losing, and I just lost confidence and didn’t feel like I could push myself toward a fight. I wasn’t enjoying it at all, and there was a time I didn’t even want to do it,” she said.
“I think I looked like I was having more fun in my debut fight. I fought without fear, but after experiencing losses, I started becoming more cautious and a bit more afraid,” Hirata said.
Hirata Itsuki plans to expose Phogat outside of wrestling
Now, Itsuki Hirata has found her way back. A return to the ONE Friday Fights series helped her rediscover the joy that first drew her to the sport, and she steps into her Tokyo homecoming with a renewed sense of purpose.
Breaking through the mental walls she built during her slump has become part of her preparation — and she knows what is on the other side.
“I still want to show more in my fights. And to do that, I have to break through my fear and anxiety and show everything I’ve got, as much as I possibly can in the fight. But that’s kind of the wall I’m facing right now, so it’s not easy. But once I overcome it, I think my true self will come out more,” she said.
Standing across from her is a wrestler who knows how to drag fights into the territory where she thrives. Phogat carries elite takedown ability and physical strength built on a decorated wrestling background. Hirata has studied her opponent closely and has a clear picture of both the threat and the opportunity.
“She’s strong in wrestling — you can tell from her background, especially with her takedowns. Rather than striking, her grappling is strong. I think her wrestling is her biggest weapon, plus her physical strength, so I’m definitely cautious about that. Her strength is her wrestling, so I want to outperform her in other areas.
“I think her weakness is outside of wrestling. I still see her as a wrestler, and I’ve just been training to execute what I want to do. So, I have not really changed.”
