Japanese star was badly beaten in their last meeting, so needs to pick next opponent carefully
When you’ve spent years covering fighters, you start to recognise the ones who have it. That undefinable X-factor. The kind of charisma and presence that doesn’t just fill an arena – it lingers in the memory.
Takeru Segawa is one of those rare fighters.
Across hundreds of interviews over the years, I’ve noticed a common thread, particularly with many Western fighters: they got into combat sports because of films: Kickboxer, Bloodsport, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat. These films truly helped shape a generation of combat sports icons.
Takeru evokes that same energy.
