Yuya Wakamatsu had a shot ONE Championship glory in 2022 against Adriano Moraes. Three years later, he’s ready for another shot. At ONE 172 on Sunday, March 23, he faces his Brazilian foe for the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship.
Yuya Wakamatsu Comes Into ONE 172 at No. 2 at Flyweight, Hungry for Belt
The Japanese talent has reeled off three straight victories on the global stage to secure his #2 ranking in the division. It has positioned him for the shot at the crown and he is ready to show how much he has grown as an athlete. The title would bring him validation of all of his hard work.
“The World Champion in my definition is, in part, it’s simply the strongest in the world. But also this includes all the effort and sacrifice.” Yuya Wakamatsu told ONE.
ONE WEEK AWAY 🔥 Just seven days left until Takeru and Rodtang's massive kickboxing super-fight, five epic World Title bouts, and MORE on March 23 at ONE 172 in Japan! Get your early-bird PPV now and lock in for the biggest event of the year! 🇯🇵
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Yuya Wakamatsu Knows Title Shot Means More Getting Hand Raised in Victory
For Yuya Wakamatsu, it is more than just 26 pounds of gold. The meaning of being a World Champion extends beyond the ring. “Little Piranha” believes he has done everything in his power to earn that title and now much step inside the ring in Saitama Super Arena to take it.
“It’s an extraordinary thing to sacrifice everything, to put everything toward MMA. From everyday training to personal life, everything will be part of the practice. So, the champion is such an amazing person, not just a strong guy. An athlete who, as a human, has overcome all difficult times – only such a fighter is entitled to be a World Champion,” the Japanese talent remarked.
The star-studded lineup at ONE 172 is headlined by a flyweight kickboxing super-fight between Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Takeru Segawa. In addition to the flyweight MMA title tilt, four additional World Championship matchups take place. The massiveness of this event for Japanese martial arts is a point of pride for Yuya Wakamatsu.
“For me, to become a champion on March 23 is to show Japanese pride. And by becoming a champion myself, I can prove that Japanese fighters with Bushido pride are the strongest. Also, I would be able to show the audience that people can change and improve. I consider this a good opportunity to prove these things to the world,” Wakamatsu said
Yuya Wakamatsu Eager to Make Home Country Proud on Grand Stage
Elevating Japanese martial arts back to a prominent position is something the 30-year-old hopes to play a part in on March 23. ONE 172 has a Japan vs. The World theme surrounding it. “Little Piranha” plans to play his part to represent his country in one of its most storied venues.
“What is special about Japanese fighters compared to foreign fighters is what is called Bushido – the spirit of the samurai we share from ancient times. Japanese people were historically mentally strong enough to do seppuku (ritual suicide). This spirit is in our DNA to this day,” the title hopeful commented.
Yuya Wakamatsu Cordial to Adriano Moraes Despite High Stakes
While Moraes is a rival that he hopes to topple in an emphatic fashion, it is a friendly rivalry between competitors. There is no ill will from the Japanese star, who tries to embody the martial arts spirit. Wakamatsu hopes to display all of that while completing his dream on a huge platform on global pay-per-view.
“Bushido is respect for others. It’s the spirit of the respect for the discipline. In my view, it’s also to give full effort, to win, and do everything despite scars and damage, as well as to fight for your family. So, it’s like respect and discipline,” Yuya Wakamatsu said.
ONE 172 airs live on Sunday, March 23, at 3 a.m. ET/midnight PT. The action hails from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The event is available to purchase on global pay-per-view via watch.onefc.com.
