Japanese atomweight star Chihiro Sawada will look to do her mentor proud when she steps into the ring to face undefeated American Natalie Salcedo at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 28-year-old was heavily influenced by MMA legend Megumi Fujii, and she even learned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling from her at the age of 10.
As a result of that training, Sawada has compiled a 10-1 career record ahead of her critical showdown with Salcedo. If the Japanese standout were to win, she could break into the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title picture, and she explains why she wants to fight both the reigning queen, Denice Zamboanga, and the former champ, Stamp Fairtex.
Atomweight Contender Chihiro Sawada Credits Legendary Fujii
Reflecting on her formative years training under one of Japanese MMA’s most accomplished pioneers, Chihiro Sawada described the profound impact Fujii had on her martial arts development. The atomweight contender revealed that learning from a famous athlete during childhood created aspirations to achieve similar legendary status in combat sports.
“When I was around 10 years old, she taught me BJJ and wrestling. When I was learning from her, she was a famous female athlete in Japan, so I admired her, and thought maybe one day, I could be someone like her,” Chihiro Sawada said.
The early exposure to high-level grappling instruction from a living legend provided technical advantages that shaped Sawada’s explosive wrestling-based style. Her transition from wrestling to MMA in 2021 allowed her to apply those foundational skills within mixed martial arts competition, where her takedowns and ground control have troubled numerous opponents throughout her professional run.
Chihiro Sawada Honors Fujii’s Legacy in Japanese MMA History
Beyond personal gratitude, Chihiro Sawada emphasized Fujii’s broader significance to Japanese mixed martial arts and her status as an inspiration transcending gender divisions. The 28-year-old contender expressed appreciation for the technical knowledge gained while acknowledging her mentor’s iconic place in the sport’s history.
“Fujii Megumi-san is an idol for Japanese MMA, not only for female fighters. I am thankful to have learned from her mixed martial arts techniques. She’s a big idol for us here, a part of the history of Japanese MMA,” Sawada said.
The respectful acknowledgment demonstrates understanding of how pioneer athletes create pathways for future generations while establishing technical standards that define entire eras of competition.
Chihiro Sawada’s Title Ambitions and Dream Matches
Looking beyond her immediate challenge, Chihiro Sawada revealed her ultimate goal of capturing ONE Championship gold. But that is just the beginning. The Japanese wrestler identified specific dream opponents including current atomweight titleholder Zamboanga and former three-sport champion Stamp.
“I would love to win the ONE Championship belt. It’s so cool. If I can win the ONE World Title, I won’t be satisfied with just that belt because I’d like to fight against the best. This includes Denice Zamboanga. And I [also] want to fight against Stamp Fairtex,” Sawada said.
If Sawada could hand Salcedo her first career loss, it would make her a legitimate threat to Zamboanga’s throne and line her up for a crack at the gold.
ONE Fight Night 39 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, January 24. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
