Yuya Wakamatsu Eyes World Title Shot After Frantic War With Gilbert Nakatani At ONE Fight Night 26
Last Friday in U.S. primetime, Yuya "Little Piranha" Wakamatsu emerged victorious after a grueling 15-minute slugfest against American standout Gilbert Nakatani during their flyweight MMA clash at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
This hard-fought victory at ONE Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov extended the Japanese star’s winning streak to three and further solidified his position as the division’s #2-ranked contender.
Wakamatsu expressed satisfaction with his performance against a dangerous opponent, although he admitted that an early inadvertent strike to the back of his head affected him for much of the bout.
“Little Piranha” relayed his thoughts to onefc.com, stating, “I’m happy about the fact that I won this fight. But also, I got hit in the first round in the back of the head, so I don’t remember much.” He continued, “As a martial artist, I didn’t do a very good job, but the fact that I won, that’s good. The result is good.”
Wakamatsu described how the accident impacted his performance: “I believe that I was in prime condition until the moment that I got hit on the back of my head. Until then, I was in my prime condition. But after getting hit, I couldn’t remember much.”
Despite the setback, Wakamatsu quickly credited Nakatani for his heart and tenacity. The debuting American absorbed some of “Little Piranha’s” hardest shots and displayed unwavering aggression, proving his capability against top-tier flyweight mixed martial artists.
Wakamatsu praised Nakatani’s fortitude, stating, “He has a very strong heart. I fought him, and I felt that personally. His resolve, what his heart has prepared for, is a lot stronger than the average fighter.”
With his significant win at ONE Fight Night 26, Yuya Wakamatsu may have positioned himself for a shot at the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Title, which became available following the retirement of former titleholder Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson earlier this year.
Being the division’s #2-ranked contender, Wakamatsu believes he’s next in line for the opportunity, declaring, “I want the ONE Championship belt. ONE Championship is the place where strong people, strong athletes assemble. And for my next opponent, it can be anyone. I just want the belt for this moment of time.”
Looking ahead, Wakamatsu sees a potential rematch with #1-ranked contender and former champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes as a likely scenario. Their last encounter in 2022 ended with Wakamatsu suffering a third-round submission loss while vying for the title.
With renewed confidence, Wakamatsu stated, “I will believe in myself, keep pressing forward, and knock him out,” reiterating his determination to emerge victorious in a possible rematch with the Brazilian superstar.
