Wei Rui, one of China's top kickboxers, has signed with the multinational martial arts organization ONE Championship, it was announced on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old entered ONE Championship on the back of a 20-fight winning streak spanning six years.
Wen Rui defeated Japan's Ren Hiramoto to win the K-1 Lightweight Grand Prix in 2018, becoming the first Chinese fighter to win a title in the Japanese kickboxing promotion, but he lost the belt later that year. Lost.
He then returned to his home country of China, where he continued to compete and amass an undefeated record. After his domestic success, Louis said he is ready to compete overseas again.
“I have competed in many events nationally and internationally,” he told ONE FC.com. “Even though I have achieved success and recognition in China, I am looking for an opportunity to fight the best fighters on the best platform.
“ONE Championship is the best martial arts promotion. It's the perfect platform for me.”
Louis will compete in ONE Championship's bantamweight division, where big fights and big-name fighters await him. The title holder is Jonathan Haggerty, and if the Chinese fighter continues to win, a match with the British man is inevitable.
Also waiting in the wing is the number one candidate, Japan's Hiroki Akimoto.
Rui's rivalry with Japanese kickboxers dates back to 2016, when he defeated three Japanese fighters within a year, including former K-1 lightweight champion Kenta Hayashi.
Of course, the biggest Japanese name on the roster in any weight class is Ken Segawa, the only three-weight champion in K-1 history.
A match between the former K-1 star and Louis will be a big draw for both Japanese and Chinese audiences.
Rui also has experience against Thai opponents, defeating Thanonchai Thanakorn Gym, Petpanomrung Kiatmu 9 and Pakorn PK Saenchai. However, in 2014 he suffered his first defeat of his career at the hands of Leldosila Chumpea Tour.
Another potential Thai opponent for Louis would be Superlek Kiatmu9, who recently defeated Takeru to successfully defend his flyweight kickboxing title. He has openly talked about moving up to bantamweight, the base class.
ONE Championship has held 27 events in China but has not returned to the country since the pandemic. There are plans to return later this year, and if that happens, Louis will almost certainly be on the card.
