Wakamatsu Vs. Kholmirzaev: 4 Keys To Victory In ONE Flyweight MMA World Title Fight At ONE SAMURAI 1
Sparks will fly when two of the most lethal finishers in ONE Championship’s flyweight MMA division collide for 26 pounds of gold at ONE SAMURAI 1.
ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu will defend his coveted belt against Uzbek destroyer Avazbek “Ninzya” Kholmirzaev in the historic co-main event on Wednesday, April 29, which broadcasts live on pay-per-view from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Wakamatsu has cemented himself as the new face of Japanese MMA.
First, he knocked out Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes in a monumental performance to capture the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title at ONE 172 in March 2025. Then, seven months later, the Japanese star stopped reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio via second-round TKO to retain his gold at ONE 173.
Now, a more dangerous challenge awaits. Kholmirzaev has been a complete wrecking ball, compiling a 15-2 professional record with a shocking 93 percent finishing rate. What’s more, he owns nine victories in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
That said, here is what it will take for each man to leave the Ariake Arena with the belt draped over his shoulder.
#1 Wakamatsu’s Dynamite Left Hook
Wakamatsu possesses some of the most jaw-dropping power in the entire promotion. Every strike carries enough torque to end a fight instantly, but it is his left hook that stands above the rest.
The 31-year-old’s boxing is his greatest attribute. Staying low and compact, he generates tremendous rotational power, delivering a short, explosive hook off the jab or as a counter that opponents rarely see coming.
That destructive capability was on full display when he dismantled Moraes inside a single round to claim the flyweight MMA crown. He deployed the same blueprint against Pacio, dropping the Filipino star before finishing him off with a punishing ground-and-pound assault.
Kholmirzaev thrives on forward aggression. Every time the Uzbek phenom marches forward, he walks straight into Wakamatsu’s kill zone, where a single left hook can crumple the challenger in an instant.
#2 Kholmirzaev’s Unpredictable Striking Combinations
What makes Kholmirzaev so dangerous is that opponents never know where the next shot is coming from.
The Uzbek standout fully maximizes his 5-foot-8 frame, staying long with front kicks and spinning back kicks before switching gears in a flash. He can close the distance explosively with flying knees and seamlessly transition to a suffocating clinch attack loaded with elbows and knees. The threat never comes from one direction.
What amplifies the danger further is how he chains these weapons together without a discernible pattern. His contract-winning performance over Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada in July 2025 proved he can sustain that chaos across three full rounds. In his most recent outing last December, Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado was completely mauled, unable to find a pattern in the mayhem before the finish arrived.
Against a seasoned, intelligent fighter like Wakamatsu, misdirection will be the decisive variable. If the challenger keeps the World Champion second-guessing, the openings for a devastating finish will naturally come.
#3 Wakamatsu’s Ironclad Takedown Defense And Ground Control
Grappling was once a vulnerability in Wakamatsu’s game. It is now one of his greatest strengths. The Tribe Tokyo MMA product has defended the most takedowns in ONE Championship’s flyweight MMA history, boasting a remarkable 76 percent takedown defense.
The Japanese star’s mechanics are deliberate and effective – he keeps his hands low to dig for underhooks and then uses his powerful hips to stay upright. Takedown attempts are frequently met with ferocious uppercuts, punishing opponents for shooting.
His improvement is not purely defensive either. Wakamatsu has weaponized his grappling offensively, taking dangerous strikers like Danny “The King” Kingad, “Wolf Warrior” Hu Yong, and “The Hunter” Xie Wei to the canvas and systematically breaking them down.
If “Little Piranha” stuffs Kholmirzaev’s shots and keeps the fight upright, the challenger’s unpredictability is neutralized. Every failed takedown attempt saps energy and hands Wakamatsu another opportunity to unload.
#4 Kholmirzaev’s Suffocating Choke Arsenal
Kholmirzaev is not just a submission threat. He is a specialist with a vice-like grip and a powerful squeeze to match, with five of his six submission victories coming by way of choke.
The Raqobat affiliate is particularly menacing from the front headlock position, which he uses both to stuff takedown attempts and advance directly into fight-ending chokes.
His arsenal is comprehensive – the guillotine, D’Arce, and ninja chokes all feature prominently, giving opponents no single defensive priority to rely on. And when they manage to defend them, he transitions seamlessly to other attacks, like when he forced Willie “White Lion” van Rooyen to tap out via armbar last November.
Wakamatsu’s most damaging losses have come by way of submission, a detail Kholmirzaev’s camp will not have overlooked. An opportunistic neck hunter of “Ninzya’s” caliber needs only a split second of exposure to lock in a tight choke, stun the Tokyo crowd, and leave Japan as the new ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion.
