‘I Admired Her’ – Chihiro Sawada Credits Japanese Icon Megumi Fujii For Inspiring Her Rise In ONE Championship
Chihiro Sawada has emerged as one of the most feared fighters in the stacked women’s atomweight MMA division in ONE Championship, and that reputation can be traced back to a very important encounter with Japanese mixed martial arts pioneer Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii.
The 28-year-old will return to action at ONE Fight Night 39: Rambolek vs. Dayakaev on Prime Video against undefeated American Natalie Salcedo on Friday, January 23, live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
Before she steps back into the ring, Sawada reflected on how her early connection with Fujii helped shape her path into professional MMA, ultimately leading her to the world’s largest martial arts organization:
“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.
“I wasn’t that good at wrestling, so that’s why I focused on it. That’s why I focused on wrestling first. That’s how I thought about it when I was young.”
At the time, Fujii was already recognized as a trailblazer for women’s MMA in Japan and overseas. Renowned for her relentless wrestling and submission-heavy style, the legendary fighter headlined events across multiple promotions, including Jewels and Bellator.
By the time she retired in 2013 at the age of 39, Fujii had compiled 26 victories in 29 professional bouts, with 19 of those wins coming by submission.
Those credentials resonated deeply with a young Sawada, who would later follow a similar path.
Today, Sawada’s grappling has become her defining weapon. Once a fight hits the canvas, opponents are often left with little room to breathe under her suffocating control.
Since making her promotional debut in ONE in 2023, the Tokyo native has posted five wins in six appearances. She needed less than two rounds to secure an Americana submission over Sanaz Fayazmanesh at ONE Friday Fights 5.
Most recently, Sawada showcased sustained positional dominance to outwork fellow Japanese standout Itsuki “Android 18” Hirata over three rounds, earning her a unanimous decision at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri last November.
But even before stepping into professional MMA, Sawada sought guidance from the figure she once admired most.
The atomweight contender recalled:
“Before I graduated from high school, I asked her about MMA, and when I fought professionally in Shooto, she supported me as well.
“We don’t have such a close relationship now, but whenever I have a fight, and when I win the fight, she’ll message me and show her support in each of my fights.”
Fujii Inspires Sawada To Chase ONE Championship Gold
Megumi Fujii’s influence continues to shape Chihiro Sawada’s ambitions, even as the sport has evolved into a truly global battlefield.
To carve her own place in history, the Team Akatsuki and IDEA Asakusa representative understands that success now means conquering the deepest talent pool in women’s MMA today.
That pursuit resumes when she faces Natalie Salcedo at ONE Fight Night 39, where a win could propel her deeper into the World Title conversation.
Sawada said:
“It’s quite difficult to compare myself to Megumi Fujii. Because when I was a kid, Fujii-san was an idol. She was already an accomplished MMA fighter when I was a kid. Until now, I can’t compare myself to Fujii-san. She’s on quite a different level. It’s a different circumstance and situation today.
“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.”
While they competed in different eras, Sawada recognizes that today’s landscape is more competitive than ever. ONE has become a convergence point for elite athletes from around the world, raising the bar for anyone chasing gold.
Riding a two-fight winning streak in the atomweight division, Sawada knows another breakthrough performance could place her among the promotion’s elite — and potentially make her the first Japanese woman to claim a ONE World Title.
With that in mind, she has already identified the ultimate benchmarks — the reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion and the division’s former queen.
Sawada explained:
“Yeah, I would love to win the ONE Championship belt. It’s so cool. I also like ONE Championship’s promotion style. 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.”
