Malaysian mixed martial arts star Jihin “The Shadow Cat” Radzuan came up just short in a fiercely contested Atomweight showdown, suffering a heartbreaking split-decision defeat to Canada’s Anastasia “Anniemale” Nikolakakos at ONE Fight Night 45 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok.
The closely fought three-round contest showcased grit, resilience and momentum swings, with both athletes producing standout moments before the judges narrowly awarded the victory to Nikolakakos.
Jihin entered the bout full of confidence after returning to winning ways by defeating Japan’s Gabriela Fujimoto at ONE Fight Night 40 in February. Across the cage stood an equally in-form Nikolakakos, who was making her second ONE Fight Night appearance after overcoming Victoria Souza in March.
The Malaysian enjoyed an impressive opening round, dictating much of the action with effective striking and cage control. Although Nikolakakos managed to reverse the momentum during the closing stages, Jihin survived the late pressure as the opening horn sounded.
Jihin produced arguably her best round of the fight in the second. The Malaysian controlled the action for nearly the entire five minutes, landing the cleaner strikes while constantly pushing forward. She came agonisingly close to securing a stoppage victory, but Nikolakakos displayed tremendous toughness to withstand the onslaught and remain in the contest.
With the fight hanging in the balance, Nikolakakos mounted a strong comeback in the third round.
The Canadian relied heavily on her clinch work to neutralise Jihin’s striking attack, controlling large portions of the final frame. Although Jihin managed to break free and launch several late offensive attacks, it was not enough to convince two of the three judges.
After 15 intense minutes, Nikolakakos was declared the winner via split decision, extending her winning streak to two consecutive victories in ONE Fight Night competition.
The result marks Jihin Radzuan’s third defeat in five ONE Fight Night appearances, halting the momentum she had built following her February victory.
For Nikolakakos, meanwhile, the triumph further strengthens her growing reputation in the ONE Championship atomweight division, with back-to-back victories positioning the Canadian as an emerging contender.
Credit Photo : ONE
