ONE 165: Itsuki Hirata Believes Ayaka Miura Is A One-Trick Pony

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Atomweight MMA stars Itsuki Hirata and Ayaka Miura may come from the same sporting backgrounds. But the former believes that's as far as their similarities go between the Japanese combatants.

The pair will lock horns at ONE 165: Superlek vs. Takeru on Sunday, 28 January, on native soil in Tokyo, Japan. And to make the most of the occasion, Hirata wants her collision with "Zombie" to be as exciting as it can possibly be.

"We both have a background in judo, and if we do the match just in a judo style, it would become the most boring match. I can't have a boring match in Japan. [Miura] will come to get me in the same style as always, but I want to consider the audience first," Hirata said.

"This is about if I can make it or not, fighting with myself. I want to see how well I can compose myself during this match. I practice for 100 percent, but in the real match, sometimes I can only perform at 50 percent of that. There have not been many matches where I could perform with 100 percent of my potential."

Miura is a third-degree judo black belt. Her repertoire has allowed her to become a submission magician in her weight bracket. Despite her prowess, Hirata insists that experience is all she brings to the table.

In fact, "Android 18" believes Miura is more of a one-trick pony in competition, regardless of how successfully she's implemented her skills. Meanwhile, Hirata believes her credentials are much more well-rounded. And after mixed results recently, Hirata plans to exploit Miura's weaknesses.

"Miura has been doing it for 10 years, so I don't think it's possible for her to try other things in this match. That's the only thing she has," Hirata said.

"I watched her other matches, and that's the only thing you see from her. But if she makes me take measures against it, it will lead me to lose. That's the match flow she's expecting, so I will be careful about that."