Hong Kong's Yu Yau Pui has already retired a Thai superstar. Now, the Muay Thai standout steps into an entirely different discipline this Saturday, August 15, when she makes her kickboxing debut against former four-time K-1 Champion Kana Morimoto at ONE Fight Night 46, broadcasting live from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium.

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A Career-Best Win Sets Up An Even Bigger Challenge

Yu has built her reputation as one of the most relentless Muay Thai strikers to emerge from Hong Kong's martial arts scene, and her rise inside ONE Championship reached new heights when she earned a life-changing contract on the strength of five stellar performances in November 2023.

Despite having some mixed results since then, the Hong Konger earned one of the biggest wins of her career this past March. That evening, she knocked out Anna "Supergirl" Jaroonsak in 75 seconds in a showing that led to the popular Thai star’s retirement.

Now, Yu faces her toughest test yet. She’ll make her professional kickboxing debut against four-time K-1 Champion and former ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Title challenger Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto at ONE Fight Night 46. It's the kind of jump that would intimidate most fighters, but for Yu, it's exactly the type of challenge she's been chasing.

"I'm so excited because I never thought that I could have a fight with her one day, and this is my first kickboxing competition in ONE Championship, so I think it's a big challenge. She's so used to fighting under kickboxing rules, and for me, I just need to get used to the new ruleset. I think it's new for me, but I accept this challenge," Yu said.

"I learn a lot from every competition, and for this one, I'll try to focus on my pace. And I think every time I prepare for a fight, it's very interesting to look inside myself and study what I can improve and what potential is inside me. So, that's what interests me most.”

Studying A Dangerous Puncher

Kana has a storied career built on an overwhelming kickboxing style and genuine knockout power.

The 34-year-old Japanese veteran has a tendency to walk opponents down, lets loose, and unleash the dynamite in her hands, especially with the overhand right. She uses her jab to close distance, mixes hooks and uppercuts once inside, and builds rhythm as fights progress, often unloading longer combinations as she gets comfortable.

That was perfectly illustrated in her victory over Stamp Fairtex last November, and fans even saw it in her close decision loss to Myanmar’s Vero Nika this past May.

Yu, who has faced Japanese competition before, understands exactly what she's up against.

"I used to fight some Japanese fighters before, and I know that most of them have a very strong heart, and they have very fast footwork and combinations," Yu acknowledged. "So, I think her biggest strength is her endurance and her heart because they have very good conditioning to fight.”

Yu Brings Her Own Storm Of Offense

Yu isn't lacking firepower of her own. Her game is built on relentless forward pressure, walking opponents down behind straight punches to the head, heavy body kicks off both legs, and punishing knees. Her teeps aren't used to find range or create distance. Instead, they're thrown to cause damage, always moving forward.

There is one significant adjustment awaiting the Hong Kong native, however. Yu has spent her professional career competing in Muay Thai, and since making her ONE Championship debut in February 2023, she has donned 4-ounce gloves, which only enhanced her power.

That all changes as she steps into the kickboxing realm. Now, Yu will move to 8-ounce gloves, and she won’t be allowed to utilize elbows, perform sweeps, catch kicks, or do clinch work.

The 33-year-old Hong Konger knows this is a new experience and she’ll need to tweak her style, but if done correctly, it could be a recipe for kickboxing success.

"I believe that my style is very well-known, and everybody fighting against me knows what I would be doing in the fight. So, I think she would be very well-prepared because she knows how I fight," Yu said.

“I used to fight in Muay Thai with 4-ounce gloves, and I believe that 4-ounce gloves really gave me so much power to maximize my punching power. But this time we're in 8-ounce gloves, and you cannot throw any elbows, and you cannot catch the kicks. So yeah, I think you really need to have very good management for managing the distance. Because if you get too close, you cannot clinch, you cannot grab the kick, so you need to move very fast in and out.”

A Statement Win Would Mean Everything

For Yu, a victory over someone of Morimoto's caliber – especially in her professional kickboxing debut – would be a massive early boost to her career inside ONE Championship.

Not only would it move her overall record in the striking arts to 30-4, but it would announce a new contender in the ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Title picture, which is teeming with elite talent.

"If I can get a win over her, I will be so proud of myself," Yu said. "Everybody who joins ONE Championship has the ultimate goal of fighting for the title, and for me, of course, too. But I think, step-by-step. I believe that everybody in this division is a force we will encounter eventually, so just [taking things] step-by-step."