Garry Tonon didn’t mind taking a few extra months off to secure his spot for ONE Championship’s debut event in Japan, which takes place this Sunday at the historic Ryogoku Kokugikan.
An eternal heartland for international martial artists, Japan is a mandatory pilgrimage for many proponents. Despite the countless accolades Tonon has won throughout his jiu-jitsu career, fighting in the “Land of the Rising Sun” is unquestionably special.
“Everything started here,” Tonon says from his Tokyo hotel. “I’ve been watching great martial artists come out of Japan for forever and it’s a cool thing to be able to finally compete here.