Gilbert Nakatani And Banma Duoji Clash In High-Stakes Flyweight MMA Showdown At ONE Fight Night 40
Two seasoned flyweight MMA stars meet in a pivotal matchup as ONE Championship expands its February card. Japanese-American standout Gilbert Nakatani battles China’s Banma “The Prince” Duoji at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video.
This exciting clash takes place on Friday, February 13, live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s fabled Lumpinee Stadium.
Nakatani arrives determined to build on his breakthrough promotional victory.
The California native made waves before joining the world’s largest martial arts organization, compiling an impressive 8-1 professional record that established him as one of America’s brightest flyweights.
His promotional debut presented an immediate championship-level test against future ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu at ONE Fight Night 26 in December 2024. The 32-year-old pushed the Japanese athlete through three rounds before falling via hard-fought unanimous decision.
Two months later he faced Filipino striking ace Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado at ONE Fight Night 28, enduring another unanimous decision setback despite showing improvement and resilience.
The Japanese-American fighter finally broke through at ONE Fight Night 37 last November, dominating Indonesia’s national wrestling champion Eko Roni Saputra with punishing ground-and-pound to secure his first promotional victory.
With his win account officially opened, Nakatani aims to launch a streak and cement his name among the division’s top contenders.
Standing opposite him will be a dangerous Chinese finisher hungry for consistency.
The Chengdu native Banma brings a remarkable 15-3 professional record with 14 finishes, showcasing extraordinary finishing ability throughout his career. The southpaw striker’s knockout power has made him a constant threat in every appearance.
His ONE journey began in 2021 with a TKO defeat against former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke. Banma returned to dominate Brazilian Muay Thai specialist Walter Goncalves via unanimous decision in Goncalves’ promotional MMA debut.
He then faced adversity at ONE Fight Night 25, dropping a unanimous decision to fan-favorite “Mini T” Danial Williams.
His most recent outing at ONE Fight Night 29 in March 2025 saw him demolish America’s Joshua “Flyin Hawaiian” Perreira via first-round TKO, though the result was later overturned to a no contest.
This upcoming flyweight battle represents a career-defining moment for both competitors. Nakatani looks to establish himself as a legitimate divisional threat. Banma seeks consistency to match his extraordinary finishing ability.
Only one man will get the outcome he desires when the bell tolls in Bangkok on February 13.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE Fight Night 40 on Prime Video.
