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Following a short-lived venture into mixed martial arts, #2-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Walter Goncalves is returning to his bread and butter with a declared mission statement. 

“Iron Hands” is set to meet Jacob Smith on Saturday, 9th December, at ONE Fight Night 17: Kryklia vs. Roberts inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, and he’s planning to reassert himself in the stacked division.

Goncalves stepped into MMA for the first time against Banma Duoji this past June at ONE Fight Night 12. Though he was beaten by the Chinese prodigy that evening, he showcased his potential throughout the gritty affair. 

With his debut in the all-encompassing sport out of the way, the Brazilian star is now focused on winning the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship. That said, he fully expects to return to MMA down the line.

“As it was my first MMA fight, it was an incredible feeling. There’s no way to describe it. I just know that I want to fight MMA more often, and I’m going to train a lot more for that. One day, I want to be an MMA World Champion,” Goncalves said.

“I want to achieve my goal of becoming a Muay Thai World Champion. I feel like it’s something that’s closest to me as it’s where I feel most confident and comfortable.”

Goncalves’ last Muay Thai victory came at ONE 157 in May 2022, coincidentally the last time fans saw his upcoming foe Smith in action.

The British star’s lone outing in ONE saw him take flyweight Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon all three rounds.

He’s been sidelined with injuries since, but Goncalves isn’t taking the Birkenhead banger lightly. He’s a student of the game and has been paying close attention to Smith’s skills ahead of their meeting. 

“I watched Jacob Smith’s fight against Rodtang, and I saw that he is a strong guy, that he moves forward all the time, that wherever he hits, he hurts his opponent, and that he also takes hits well,” he analyzed. 

“I believe that the strength of my blows will make a difference in this fight in my favor. I’ll try to explore the gaps in his game. I don’t know how it will play out, but I really hope that I can get a knockout victory.” 

Following an inactive 2023, former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Hiroki Akimoto is hungry to start the upcoming year with a bid to reclaim the gold.

The Japanese jouster was last seen in action in November 2022 at ONE 163, where he lost the World Title to Petchtanong Petchfergus by a narrow split decision. The belt was later vacated by his Thai rival, however, and Akimoto watched closely when it was contested at ONE Fight Night 16 earlier this month.

On 4th November, reigning bantamweight Muay Thai king Jonathan Haggerty claimed the coveted strap with a second-round knockout of MMA titleholder Fabricio Andrade. Despite an enthralling battle, Akimoto was left unimpressed by both men’s output.

“I expected a fast fight because it was a bantamweight fight, but I didn’t see a lot of speed from both fighters,” he told South China Morning Post. 

“I think I have more speed [than them].”

Highly regarded as one of the best kickboxers on the planet, Hiroki Akimoto amassed an impressive 7-1 record in ONE Championship, which included winning the World Title against Capitan Petchyindee in March 2022, before parting ways with the crown.

Now keen to get back to work, the 31-year-old believes his credentials warrant an immediate shot at Haggerty’s newly acquired gold. 

He has been waiting for the perfect time to return, and with ONE Championship rumored to be visiting his homeland in early 2024, the Japanese star would love to challenge “The General” in front of his compatriots.

“My skills deserve a title shot. Haggerty versus Akimoto will be the most exciting fight for the fans. That’s why fans are talking about it. That’s the reason I should get the title shot,” Akimoto stated.

“If Haggerty goes to a different division, maybe it’s not me, but if Haggerty is fighting bantamweight kickboxing, the opponent has to be me. If there’s a Japan event, of course, I definitely want to fight there.”